30 member BJP govt sworn in Karnataka

Bangalore, May 30: The first ever Bharatiya Janata Party government in South in Karnataka headed by B S Yeddyurappa was sworn in here today.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Yeddyurappa and 29 of his cabinet colleagues at a grand ceremony held on the portals of the Vidhana Soudha in the presence of thousands of party workers who had thronged the city from various parts of the state for the historic occasion.

Crackers were burst and green and saffron coloured baloons swarmed the skies around the Vidhana Soudha when Mr Yeddyurappa took the oath in the name of farmers and God.

A large number of party workers had been thronging the venue since morning to take a vantage position to witness the swearing ceremony that took place for over 30 minutes from the appointed time of 1351 hrs.

Several BJP national leaders led by Party President Rajnath Singh and Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi and Maharashtra BJP leader Gopinath Munde besides NDA convenor George Fernandes were present. KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge was among the Congress ministers present. Janata Dal (Secular) leaders were conspicuous by their absence.

The entire city wore a festive look with all main thoroughfares bedecked with safforn flags.
UNI