Mumbai, Nov 11 (IANS) Former union minister Prithviraj Chavan was sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister and Ajit Pawar as deputy chief minister of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government here Thursday.

Governor K. Sankaranarayanan administered them the oaths of office at the Raj Bhavan.

Chavan of the Congress party and Pawar, of the NCP, were accompanied by other senior leaders from both the alliance partners.

Nine other ministers from the NCP were also sworn in as ministers. These are: Chhagan Bhujbal, Vijaykumar Gavit, Manohar Naik, Jaydatt Kshirsagar, Jayant Patil, Ganesh Naik, R.R. Patil, Lakshmanrao Dhobale and Sunil Tatkare.

Earlier, Chavan, 64, was named leader of the Congress legislature party, paving the way for his becoming the chief minister.

Chavan replaces Ashok Chavan, whose resignation as chief minister was accepted by the Congress leadership following allegations of his involvement in Mumbai's Adarsh housing society scam.

Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and a state minister, was named the next deputy chief minister after Chhagan Bhujbal, hours after the announcement of Chavan being chosen as the chief minister.

Pawar was elected as deputy chief minister by NCP legislators.