HD Kumaraswamy takes oath as Karnataka CM amid Opposition show of strength

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy took oath as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka at a ceremony attended by a galaxy of opposition leaders and chief ministers on Wednesday. With this, Karnataka saw a second CM sworn-in within a span of seven days.

Governor Vajubhai Vala administered oath of office and oath of secrecy to Kumaraswamy. Alongside him, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara also took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister.

With Parameshwara swearing-in, the demand for a Dalit Deputy CM has been fulfilled after nearly six decades.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury were present at the event.

On Tuesday, top leaders from Congress and JD(S) met to discuss the portfolio sharing between the allies, and decided that 22 out of 34 ministries would be helmed by the Congress and 12 ministries including the Chief Minister would go with the JD(S).

Congress' KR Ramesh Kumar will be the Speaker of Karnataka's Vidhana Soudha, while the deputy speaker will be appointed from the JD(S). Rest of the ministry and portfolio allocation will be decided after the floor test which is due to be held on May 25.