Bommai takes oath as CM
Modi lauds Yediyurappa’s monumental contribution
Bengaluru: Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday
took charge as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. The 61-year-old leader was administered the oath of
office and secrecy by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan.
Bommai, who alone took oath on Wednesday, said he will try to expand the
Cabinet soon.
Senior BJP leader Basavraj Bommai on Wednesday took the oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, a day after being elected the legislature party leader. Bommai, Shiggaon’s MLA, was sworn in by governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. A Lingayat leader from North Karnataka, he is a close confidant of his predecessor and Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa.
While Mr Yediyurappa was under pressure from the BJP top brass to quit as CM as he was over 75 – the BJP’s unofficial age bar — and also because of the growing dissidence against him by a section of the party, his approval was sought for his successor’s name as antagonising him may have cost the BJP in polls as Mr
Yediyurappa has much influence on the strong Lingayat community in the southern state.
After taking oath, the new CM said: “B.S. Yediyurappa started people-friendly and propeople programmes and managed everything well even in a financial crisis. I will follow the guidelines set by him.”
In New Delhi, Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi, when asked about the deputy CMs’ issue, said: “So far, there is no decision on deputy CMs to be appointed in Karnataka. The party national leadership will decide on it.”
Congratulating the new CM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he brings with him “rich legislative and administrative experience”. Mr Modi added: “I am confident he will build on the exceptional work done by our government in the state.” The PM also praised Mr Yediyurappa for his “monumental contribution” towards the BJP and Karnataka.
“No words will ever do justice to the monumental contribution of B.S. Yediyurappa ji towards our party and for Karnataka’s growth. For decades, he toiled hard, travelled across all parts of Karnataka and struck a chord with the people. He is admired for his commitment to social welfare,” the PM said.
The son of a former chief minister, late S.R. Bommai, the new CM was minister for home affairs, law, parliamentary affairs and legislature in Mr Yediyurappa’s government which was dissolved on Monday. Mr Bommai is a three-time MLA from Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district and has been MLC twice.
Mr Yediyurappa, Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and G. Kishan Reddy, who were appointed central observers by the
BJP’s parliamentary board for the legislature party meeting, BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh, state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel and national general secretary C.T. Ravi were among those who attended the swearingin. Ahead of taking the oath, Mr Bommai met Mr Yediyurappa.
Asked about the Cabinet expansion, the new CM, who met the central observers, said: “Let us not discuss it today. Once they go back to Delhi, let’s see.” The new CM held a Cabinet meeting later on Wednesday to review the Covid-19 and the flood situation in the state.
In New Delhi, Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi, when asked about the deputy CMs’ issue, said: “So far, there is no decision on deputy CMs to be appointed in Karnataka. The party national leadership will decide on it.”