Gangtok, May 21 : Pawan Kumar Chamling was Wednesday sworn in as Sikkim's chief minister for a record fifth consecutive time.

Governor Shriniwas Patil administered the oath of office to 63-year-old Chamling and 11 ministers at a function at Raj Bhawan here.

The Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) had secured a two-thirds majority in the assembly elections winning 22 seats out of 32.

On Tuesday, Chamling was elected the SDF Legislature Party leader, after which the governor invited him to form the government.

In power since Dec 12, 1994, Chamling has already completed two uninterrupted decades as chief minister of the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom which merged with India in 1975.(IANS)