Governor Devanand Konwar (extreme left) administers oath to Ramadhar Singh (extreme right) at Raj Bhavan in Patna on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Aug. 26: Ramadhar Singh, who had to resign from chief minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet after a controversy erupted over him being a part of the government in spite of being declared an absconder, today took guard again as co-operative minister after securing bail.

He was administered oath by Governor Devanand Konwar at a function in Raj Bhavan today. “It is only because of the grace of chief minister Nitish Kumar and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi that I am back in the cabinet,” said BJP MLA Singh after being re-inducted.

Singh had to resign on May 20 after being declared an absconder by a local court in Aurangabad. But he got bail in the cases on June 3 and since then it was expected he would be re-inducted, as his department was being looked after by Modi and the BJP had not given any indication to replace him.

Dressed in a white kurta and coat paired with white shoes, he looked cheerful. He reached Raj Bhavan half-an-hour in advance to take the oath. After the oath-taking ceremony, he stepped down from the stage and touched Nitish’s feet.

Singh then shook hands with other ministers, including health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, art, culture and youth affairs minister Sukhda Pandey, social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah, human resource development minister P.K. Shahi, agriculture minister Narendra Singh and urban development and housing minister Prem Kumar. Many bureaucrats and department secretaries were present as well.

Sources said before arriving at Raj Bhavan, Ramadhar offered puja at his residence. A long saffron tika was visible on his forehead. Speaking to The Telegraph, Ramadhar said: “Nitishji and Modiji trusted me. They had faith on me and the result is that I am back in the cabinet and I have taken an oath to serve the people. The leadership has always motivated me to believe in the court of law, I respect the court and it has granted me bail. I don’t have much to say but I must say it’s the happiest day of my life. I am feeling great after taking the oath.”

He added: “It’s my privilege that I have been given the same portfolio as earlier. I had promised to take the department forward. I am grateful to Nitishji who has always guided me. He is like my guardian and I would always be obliged to him.” Later, Ramadhar and Nitish, along with other dignitaries, including Konwar, joined for refreshments arranged on the first floor of Raj Bhavan.

Singh had allegedly made a communal and inflammatory speech in 1992 and was declared an absconder by Aurangabad court in May 1995 after he had repeatedly failed to appear before it in connection with the case registered by the police in Madanpur police station. Hundred of supporters welcomed him as he came out of Raj Bhavan. “Our leader is an honest man. We have come from Aurangabad just to wish him,” said Nagendra Kumar Singh, a supporter.