Mumbai, Jul 9 (IANS): Septuagenarian Ratnabai R. Khot could not control her tears when her son and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Sadabhau R. Khot was sworn in as member of the Maharashtra council of ministers on Friday.

After Khot was administered the oath of office by Governor C.V. Rao, 71-year-old Ratnabai was seen wiping tears of joy with the sash of her bright red 'nav-vari' Maharashtrian sari and muttering "my Sada has become a minister".

"It is a reward for his lifelong dedication to poor farmers' cause. He has shed blood and toiled for them day and night," Ratnabai told mediapersons as her son, daughter-in-law and grandson looked on with pride.

She reminded her 52-year-old son that he had achieved this position "only with the blessings and support of the farming community" and advised him to continue with the same vigour to fight for their cause as well as that of the poor and downtrodden in society.

The SSS is one of the three smaller allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance government in the state.