Siddaramaiah sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister

Congress leader Siddaramaiah has taken oaths as Karnataka's 22nd Chief Minister, beginning the party’s rule of the state on its own after a gap of nine years.

Governor HR Bhardwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy to Siddaramaiah at Sree Kanteerva stadium in city centre.

This is the first time in Karnataka that a chief minister was sworn in at a stadium as work on metro rail has taken up much space in front of the Vidhana Soudha, the majestic state secretariat, the usual venue for such functions.

Siddaramaiah, chosen on 10 May by the party to lead the government, has said that he and the state Congress chief G Parameshwara would go to New Delhi to finalise the names of the ministers in talks with the high command.

Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysore, about 130 km from Bangalore, that the party’s election manifesto had made a number of promises and he would draw up a plan to ensure their time-bound implementation.

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He sought cooperation of all sections of the society, including Dalits, as at a few places some Dalit organisations have organised protests against what they claim as “denial” of chief ministership to union Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit.

“I am also a Dalit (in the sense that he is from a deprived sections of the society),” said Siddaramaiah, who belongs to Kuruba (shepherd community) caste.

Siddaramaiah said Kharge deserved the post but high command has given the responsibility to him and all should abide by it.

Kharge also appealed to the protesting Dalits to end the agitation. He told reporters in Bangalore that the Congress high command has taken the decision and now the focus should be on helping the party to provide good governance and not protests.

The Congress won 121 seats in the 225-member assembly for which election was held on 5 May and voted counted on 8 May. The Congress last ruled the state on its own in 1999-2004. For nearly two years in 2004-2006, it headed a coalition with Janata Dal-Secular.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was routed in the poll as it won just 40 seats and is tied for the second spot with Janata Dal-Secular which also got the same number of seats.

Independents and smaller parties have taken 22 seats while voting will take place on 28 May for one seat as polling was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate.

With inputs from IANS