INDIA
At HDK oath, top anti-BJP leaders put up rare unity
It was the swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as Karnataka's Chief Minister, but the event was overshadowed by a galaxy of Opposition leaders who put up a rare show of strength ahead of next year's general elections.
The anti-BJP leaders stood together raising hands in unity, in an important development coinciding with efforts being made to put up a joint fight against the ruling party at the Centre in the run-up to 2019.
Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office and secrecy to Kumaraswamy as CM and Congress leader G Parmeshwara as his deputy, against the backdrop of Karnataka's imposing Vidhan Soudha.
"Leaders who came from across states wanted to give a message to the nation that we are one, and in 2019, there will be a major change in the political situation. They were not here to protect this government; this government will be protected by local Congress leaders and our leaders," said the CM.
He admitted that a lot was riding on the succes of the alliance. "I have to be very careful about running the coalition government," he said.
BS Yeddyurappa formed government a week ago, but had to quit three days later without facing a trust vote as BJP — though the single-largest party — remained short of majority. JD(S) and Congress, who had fought against each other, then staked claim to form a coalition government. The combine has 117 MLAs against BJP's 104.
This is the biggest political setback for BJP and a rare success for Congress after Narendra Modi swept to power at the Centre four years ago.
In Karnataka, Congress will have 22 ministers and the JD(S) 12. They would be sworn in after a floor test slated for Friday.
The Speaker will be from Congress, his deputy from JD(S). Congress has named Ramesh Kumar for the job. JD(S) is yet to name its candidate.
Those who attended the swearing-in were UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, BSP's Mayawati, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, expelled JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav, CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, NCP's Sharad Pawar and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav.
The CMs who were at the event included: Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) and Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi).
Akhilesh and Maya greeted each other warmly, waved to the crowds and sat next to each other amid loud cheers. It was their first public appearance together after they joined hands for the recent UP bypolls. Mamata and her rival Yechury also politely greeted each other, shook hands and walked away.
Maya and Sonia Gandhi bumped foreheads, held hands and chatted, while Rahul joined them.
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhara Rao and his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik were missing in action.