7 years ago
New Delhi:
JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka along with his deputy G Parameshwara, the Karnataka Congress chief. "If you find any fault in us, my office is open to you. You can approach me," the newly elected chief minister said at a press conference after he took oath. He called the ceremony "historic" as it saw so many leaders coming together. Karnataka sees its second swearing-in ceremony in less than a week after BJP's BS Yeddyurappa resigned on Saturday minutes before the floor test in the state assembly. HD Kumaraswamy was greeted on the stage by a number of top leaders who, in a show off opposition unity, took part in the swearing-in ceremony.
HD Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony was a star studded-affair with several opposition leaders including Congress' Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav among many others sharing the same stage.
The Congress and the JDS stitched an unexpected alliance soon after the state threw a split verdict on May 15. Of the state's 34 ministries, 22 would go to the Congress and 12, including the post of the Chief Minister, will be with the JD(S), Mr Parameshwara, who also heads the state unit of the Congress.
HD Kumaraswamy's oath ceremony was a star studded-affair with several opposition leaders including Congress' Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav among many others sharing the same stage.
The Congress and the JDS stitched an unexpected alliance soon after the state threw a split verdict on May 15. Of the state's 34 ministries, 22 would go to the Congress and 12, including the post of the Chief Minister, will be with the JD(S), Mr Parameshwara, who also heads the state unit of the Congress.
Here are the Highlights of the swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka:
The oath ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy and G Parameshwara at Bengaluru's Vidhan Soudha was a show of opposition unit, and was a first for a number of reasons. The big message -- "The leaders have not come here to support me but to give a message that there will be a big change in 2019," said HD Kumaraswamy after he took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka, among the few states that is not under the BJP rule.
Here is a glimpse of all that happened at the Vidhan Soudha in what the chief minister describes as a "historic" ceremony.
The floor test to take place at the Karnataka Assembly on May 25th
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted congratulating both HD Kumaraswamy and G Parameshwara after they took oath today.
"I congratulate Shri @hd_kumaraswamy Ji and @DrParameshwara Ji on taking oath as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. My best wishes for their tenure ahead."
Congress president who was present at the ceremony, tweeted his congratulatory message to the newly elected chief minister.
"My best wishes to @HD_Kumaraswamy & @DrParameshwara as they begin their new innings as the CM & Deputy CM of Karnataka.
It was a pleasure to meet & share the stage with leaders of opposition parties from all over India, at the swearing in," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
HD Kumaraswamy addresses press conference after he took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka
- For the last one week, there was instability in the state
- I want to thank Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for their support
- I'm a child as far as the current political situation is concerned
- On the 25th, there'll be a floor test and all the answers will be given
- This government will be a stable one. We will try to solve the problems of the people
- It is historic to see so many leaders come for the swearing in of a Chief Minister
- If you find any fault in us, my office is open to you. You can approach me
- Politics is secondary, we must now work for the development of the state
WATCH | Sonia Gandhi, Mayawati hug at #KumaraswamySwearingIn
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2018
Track LIVE updates: https://t.co/ZD9fyIE1Zj pic.twitter.com/0El1Uj7aEi
Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy photographed together at the oath ceremony in Bengaluru.
The former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, soon after BS Yedyurappa had submitted his resignation, said that the BJP's "Operation Lotus" to poach legislators from other parties has failed and democracy has won in Karnataka. "Conspiracy by BJP fails. Their attempts to indulge in anti-constitutional activities have failed."
UPA head Sonia Gandhi greeted by JDS leader Deve Gowda soon after the swearing-in ceremony at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh congratulates HD Kumaraswamy as he takes oath as the chief minister of Karnataka. "Congratulations to Shri HD Kumaraswamy and Shri G Parameshwar on taking oath as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. I hope, Karnataka will move forward towards peace, progress and prosperity under the new Govt.," Mr Singh tweeted.
WATCH | Once rivals, Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati share stage at #KumaraswamySwearingIn
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2018
LIVE coverage on: https://t.co/hMlRpgak2y and NDTV 24x7
Track updates here: https://t.co/ZD9fyIE1Zj pic.twitter.com/NFvS3CCjk6
Picture perfect: The united colours of opposition at Vidhan Soudha
Ahead of next year's general elections, a united front to take on the BJP tops the opposition agenda, but cohesiveness in this direction has been elusive. Even a state-level alliance between the Congress and the JD(S) for 2019 is expected to ensure a majority of Karnataka's 28 parliamentary seats to them.
Congress' Sonia Gandhi shares a quick hug with Dalit powerhouse from Uttar Pradesh Mayawati as they share the stage at HD Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony.
JDS chief HD Deve Gowda arrives for his son Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony as Karnataka Chief Minister
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2018
LIVE updates here: https://t.co/ApO8YmgnC3
Special coverage on https://t.co/hMlRpgak2y and NDTV 24x7 pic.twitter.com/RYcL3eQfWm
One-time rivals in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav share the stage at Vidha Soudha in Bengaluru as they arrive for Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony.
Though, both the parties have recently come closer, particularly after they together managed to win the Lok Sabha by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, this is the first time the two leaders will share a platform together at a public event.
HD Kumaraswamy starts his new job as Chief Minister of Karnataka with the benefit of hindsight- he has held the office once earlier and returns to it in a renewal of vows with the Congress, with whom his party had a starter marriage in 2004.
Read all about the chief minister to be.
After bad starter marriage, Congress and HD Kumaraswamy give it another shot
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 23, 2018
Read here: https://t.co/Opx6VdAKTM pic.twitter.com/p44u8aNfQD
DK Shivakumar says he never aspired to be chief minister.
No one is unhappy, we all are together. We are celebrating that our government is coming in power. I never said that I'm an aspirant of #Karnataka Chief Minister post. All is well: DK Shivakumar, Congress #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/p307QtOZr6
- ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Pawar and Akhilesh Yadav arrive in Bengaluru to take part in the oath ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy.
On the Congress-JDS alliance in Karnataka Sitaram Yechury said, "There is no such thing as a "maha gathbandhan" here. In Karnataka, it is the Congress and the JDS, in Uttar Pradesh, it is the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, in Bihar, it is the RJD and other parties. In Kerala, it will be Congress vs Left. So there will be different combinations in different states. Any combination or alliance is formed after the election."
Mamata Banerjee, Chandrababu Naidu have reached the swearing in ceremony.
We've come here to witness swearing in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy & express our solidarity to him. In future we'll work together to protect & promote national interest. We're here to strengthen all regional parties: Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu&WB CM Mamata Banerjee in Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/bRy7Qp1wWb
- ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Rain lashes Bengaluru ahead of the swearing-in.
Congress's Ramesh Kumar, a former minister, will be the next Assembly speaker, while the deputy speaker's post will go to the JD(S), AICC general secretary in-charge of the state K C Venugopal told PTI.
Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury is also likely to attend the ceremony.
Mr Kumaraswamy also visited his parents' house in Bengaluru south and took the blessings of father and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda and mother Chennamma for becoming the Chief Minister for a second time.
Mr Kumaraswamy has been visiting a number of temples since Sunday. Today he offered prayers to goddess Chamundeshwari with his wife. Previously he prayed at the Ranganatha Swamy and Laskhmi Narasimha Swamy temples. He is seen at the Majunatha Swamy temple in the picture.
JDS leaders hope that the alliances would inspire other opposition parties that have fought each other earlier to unite.
He will be sworn in as chief minister for the second time in 12 years.
HD Kumaraswamy is to take oath at 4.30pm at the state secretariat.
Mr Kumaraswamy said all promises made will be kept.
All the promises made in the manifesto will be implemented. Safeguarding the interest of the farming community is our top priority: #Karnataka CM designate HD Kumaraswamy pic.twitter.com/wq7lLmbwgD
- ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2018
Another shot of celebrations outside the JDS leader's residence.
Celebrations outside HD Kumaraswamy's house in Bengaluru were in full swing ahead of his oath taking ceremony.
Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi will be in Bengaluru today for the oath of HD Kumaraswamy. The ceremony will be attended by a chunk of key opposition leaders, including chief ministers of four states.
The post of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will be evenly divided - the Speaker will be from the Congress, his deputy will be from the Janata Dal United. The Congress has named Ramesh Kumar for the job, the JD(S) is yet to name its candidate.
Of the state's 34 ministries, 22 would go to the Congress and 12, including the post of the Chief Minister, will be with the JD(S), said Mr Parameshwara, who also heads the state unit of the Congress.
The function would also be a rare occasion where bitter rival-turned-allies, Akhilesh Yadav and Dalit powerhouse Mayawati of Uttar Pradesh would share the limelight. Mayawati's BSP, which had helped Samajwadi Party candidates win two Lok Sabha by-elections in Uttar Pradesh earlier, has promised to continue the alliance for next year's Lok Sabha elections.
