Agartala, Mar 10: A CPI(M)-led Left Front government headed by Manik Sarkar assumed office for the fourth consecutive term in Tripura on Monday. Sarkar was sworn in as the chief minister for the fourth time along with 11 ministerial colleagues by Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya.

The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sarkar and the 11 cabinet ministers, including one each from the Left Front partners the RSP and CPI and a woman legislator, Bijita Nath at the lawns of Raj Bhavan here. Anil Sarkar, Badal Choudhury, Aghore Debbarma, Tapan Chakraborty, Manik De, Jitendra Choudhury, Khagendra Jamatiya, Sahid Choudhury (all of CPI-M), Joygobinda Debroy (RSP) and Manindra Reang (CPI) were sworn in as ministers. CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, were present at the ceremony in Raj Bhavan.

The Congress, which secured ten seats in the elections, was conspicuous by its absence. The party's poll partner, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) which won one seat, was represented by its president Bijoy Hrangkhal at the swearing-in.