A five-member BJP-led coalition ministry headed by BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in, bringing to an end the 34-day President's rule imposed on the state.
BANGALORE: A five-member BJP-led coalition ministry headed by B S Yeddyurappa was sworn in on Monday in Karnataka, bringing to an end the 34-day President's rule imposed on the state in the wake of political turmoil.
Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered oath of office and secrecy to Yeddyurappa, Govind M Karajol, VS Acharya, Jagadish Shettar and R Ashok (all four of cabinet rank) on the portals of Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, at a function witnessed by a galaxy of BJP leaders and thousands of party activists.
The taking of oath by Yeddyurappa as the 25th Chief Minister of the state is a historic event for the saffron party as it fulfilled its ambition of installing its first ever government in the South.
The event also turned out to be an exclusive show by BJP in the wake of its coalition partner JD(S) deciding against joining the government on Monday, which it was expected to do early next week.
However, several JD(S) leaders including former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is tipped to be the deputy chief minister in the Yeddyurappa government, attended the swearing-in ceremony, sending signals the partners remained united.
The JD(S) on Sunday announced plans that it wants all the 18 ministers of the party, including the deputy chief minister, to take oath in one-go either on November 19 or 21.
The state came under the President's rule on October nine after JD(S)-BJP coalition government led by Kumaraswamy resigned after it was reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by BJP over the power transfer tussle.
The 64-year-old Yeddyurappa, who appeared emotional, took the oath in the name of God and farmers of the state.
Top BJP leaders LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar attended the brief swearing-in ceremony that began at 12 noon.
Conspicuous by his absence was JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, who, a party official said, was in Uttar Pradesh to attend a function.
Many JD(S) MLAs were also absent at the function.
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