Bengaluru > JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy was today sworn-in as Karnataka chief minister at a grand ceremony attended by a galaxy of top leaders and regional satraps.
They smiled broadly, shook hands warmly, and even embraced each other at the bonhomie-filled event to herald the advent of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state amid doubts about its longevity.
Kumaraswamy, the third son of JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Vajubhai Vala on a huge dais outside the majestic Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power in Karnataka.
Attired in a 'dhoti' and white shirt, 58-year Kumaraswamy took the oath in the name of God and "Kannada Nadu", as hundreds of his supporters cheered loudly.
G Parameshwara, the state Congress chief and the party's Dalit face, was sworn in as Kumaraswamy's deputy.
Kumaraswamy will expand his council of ministers after the trust vote on Friday which he is expected to win without any hiccups. The Congress, which has 78 MLAs, is likely to get 20 ministerial berths and the JD(S) with 37 lawmakers 12.
Leaders of all major opposition parties including regional parties attended the function. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP's Sharad Pawar, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury were amongst those who attended the function.
CPI M Leader and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who recently walked out of the NDA and is now a bitter critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the function. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had flown to Bengaluru yesterday to congratulate Kumaraswamy.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati, who have sewn up an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, were among the first to arrive on stage. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav, former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren of JMM, DMK chief M Karunanidhi's MP daughter Kanimozhi, and RLD leader Ajit Singh were among those present.
The oath-taking proceedings were, however, curt and cold.
A glum-faced Vala, who had controversially sworn-in BJP's B S Yeddyurappa despite the clear majority enjoyed by the post-poll alliance of the Congress and JD(S), remained seated and did not even throw a glance at Kumaraswamy when he came and sat next to him.
They hardly spoke and a smile flitted across their faces only after Vala had administered the oath to Kumaraswamy. They then went through the motions of exchanging pleasantries and bouquets.
Though Kumaraswamy has managed to be back at the helm of affairs in Karnataka after a decade, managing the contradictions in the coalition may not be a smooth sailing for him after the JD(S) and Congress fought a bitter electoral battle in the state, particularly in the old Mysuru region.
Kumaraswamy had conceded yesterday that running the coalition government for the next five years would be a "big challenge" for him.
