Bangalore: Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala Friday administered the oath of office and secrecy to BJP state president BS Yeddiyurappa as Chief Minister of the southern state at Raj Bhavan. “The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Yeddiyurappa around 6:30 pm at a simple ceremony in the well-lit ‘Glass House’ on the sprawling lawns of Raj Bhavan,” a state official said.
State Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar conducted the 10-minute ceremony on the dais, with the rendering of the national anthem in the beginning and end of the event. Draped in white safari suite, with a folded green shawl over his shoulders, the 75-year-old Yeddiyurappa took oath in Kannada in the name of god in the presence of dignitaries, special invitees and top officials of the state, including police officers.
Hundreds of party’s leaders, legislators, cadres and Yeddiyurappa’s family members were also present at the event amid tight security. This is the fourth time Yeddiyurappa, who hails from Shivamogga district in the picturesque Malnad region of the state, has become Chief Minister.
Among the prominent party leaders present on the occasion were BJP’s state in-charge Muralidhar Rao, former BJP chief minister Jagadish Shettar, former Assembly speaker KG Bopaiah, former ministers Basavaraj Bommai and BR Sriramuly and G Karunakar Reddy, elder brother of Ballari mining baron G Janardhan Reddy.
Party’s senior leader and former state Chief Minster SM Krishna also attended the event. Party’s Lok Sabha members Shobha Karandlaje and Pratp Simha were also seen seated in the audience.