Stage set for BJP to make inroads in the South for the first time

Bangalore, Nov 11 (UNI) The Stage was all set for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is making inroads in South for the first time, with Senior leader B S Yeddyurappa swearing in as 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Mr Yeddyurappa will be heading the BJP-JD(S) coalition government.

Final touching were being given at Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat where Governor Rameshwar Thakur would administer oath of secrecy to Mr Yeddyurappa.

As JD(S) Legislators failing to select its candidate for Deputy Chief Minister post, only Mr Yeddyurappa will take oath. BJP top brass including Opposition Leader in the Lok Sabha L K Advani, Party National President Rajnath Singh, Mr Yeshwant Sinha, Gujrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Venkaiah Naidu, Dr Muralimanohar Joshi and others are expected to arrive here tomorrow by a charted flight to witness the ceremony.

Mr Yeddyurappa had announced that swearing in of council of Ministers would take place only after himself proving majority in the Assembly.

Main streets and Circles were decorated with Saffron flags and BJP banners with cut outs of Mr Yediyurappa. A huge cutout of Mr Yeddyurappa was seen near the Chief Minister's official residence 'Krishna'.

Meanwhile, police have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and to regulate traffic as more than 350 buses, to carry BJP workers mainly from Shimoga -- the home town of Mr Yeddyurappa-- Mysore, Hubli, Mangalore, Davanagere, are expected to move into the city.

Over 170 traffic police personnel have been drawn up and public has been advised to avoid roads leading to the venue.

UNI