For HDK’s swearing-in-ceremony, galaxy of leaders to descend upon Bengaluru

A galaxy of leaders from what is being called as a joint opposition will descend upon Bengaluru to attend the swearing-in-ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday. He is set to take oath at 4.30 pm and the police say that the expected crowd would be around 1 lakh.

I have invited leaders of all political parties, who are divided over having electoral alliance with the Congress and without the Congress. This platform could be interpreted as the first step towards coming together of secular, democratic forces against the BJP, former prime minister, H D Deve Gowda said.

BSP leader Mayawati, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader M.K. Stalin, former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja, and NCP leader Sharad Pawar are among those invited. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi too are expected to attend the function.

Preparations are underway for the swearing in ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy which will take place on Wednesday. An 80 by 30 feet stage is being set up. There would be 20 LED screens in and around the venue and traffic will be blocked when the programme is on. Seating arrangement is being made for 30,000 people.

Earlier the event was supposed to be held at the Palace Grounds or the Kanteerava Stadium. However some leaders within the JD(S) suggested that the Vidhan Soudha would be a better venue as several national leaders were to attend the event.