Yeddyurappa to be sworn-in as Karnataka CM on Friday

Bangalore, May 29 : Karnataka's Chief Minister-designate B.S. Yeddyurappa will be sworn-in on Friday. He will head the first-ever BJP Government in Karnataka.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at 1.50 p.m. in the Vidhana Soudha.

Initially the swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for today. But the date was rescheduled as the Central Government took its time to revoke President's Rule in the state.

The Union Cabinet met at short notice on Tuesday and decided to request the President to revoke central rule in Karnataka, to pave the way for the formation of the new government. The meeting took place to discuss only one issue, a spokesman said after the meeting.

The proclamation of imposing President's Rule in Karnataka was issued on November 20, 2007.

The BJP, which won 110 seats out of 224 and fell short by three numbers for simple majority, claims to have the support of some independents.

Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party has elected Mallikarjuna Kharge the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, as leader of the Opposition.

ANI