Bengaluru: The swearing-in ceremony of HD Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister of Karnataka turned out be a magnificent stage for the third front heavyweights to showcase their power.
For the first time ever in the history of India, leaders from various regional parties across the country united under one roof and witnessed the oath-taking of JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy as the CM and Congress leader Dr G Parameshwar as the Deputy CM.
Among the regional leaders who took part in the event were BSP Supremo Mayawati, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee, Telangana CM Chandrababu Naidu, NCP Leader Sharad Pawar and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh among others.
A sense of ‘anti-BJP front’ was seen here as all the major regional parties evidently share a hostile rapport with the BJP. In a subtle reference, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on reaching Bengaluru said, “Jo hamse takrayega, chur chur ho jayega (Whoever dares to fight with us will be decimated),” with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu by her side throwing a challenge to the BJP.
Oath taking
HDK took oath as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka in the name of ‘God and Kannadigas’, amidst cheering supporters. This is the second time that HDK took to the position of the CM. Even last time he became the Chief Minister in a coalition set up between the JDS and the BJP. However, the camaraderie hit the rock bottom when HDK refused to step down from the post of the CM after completing the term of 20 months as per the coalition agreement.
Dalit DCM takes oath
The event also witnessed making of history as a Dalit leader took oath as the DCM of the state. A Dalit CM for the state has been a longstanding demand. While that could not materialse, the Congress made sure that the state got a Dalit DCM in Dr G Parameshwar.
HDK’s father and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Mother Chennamma HDK’s wife Anita Kumaraswamy, son Nikhil Gowda, brother Revanna and other members of the family were present.
AICC Chief Rahul Gandhi, AICC former chief Sonia Gandhi, Congress leaders Mallikarjuna Kharge, Kerala CM Pinarayee Vijayan, Jayapal Reddy, CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury among others were present.
BJP congratulates the new CM
On one hand the BJP is observing black day, atleast two of BJP leaders have come forth to congratulate the newly formed coalition government at the state. While, MP Pratap Simha congratulated Dr. G Parameshwara alone for becoming the Deputy CM and also termed his appointment as very deserving, Rajnath Singh on the other hand congratulated both HDK and Dr. Parameshwara. “I hope, Karnataka will move forward towards peace, progress and prosperity under the new Govt,” he tweeted.
Congratulations to Shri HD Kumaraswamy and Shri G Parameshwar on taking oath as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. I hope, Karnataka will move forward towards peace, progress and prosperity under the new Govt.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 23, 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Janata Dal-Secular leader H. D. Kumaraswamy and Congress leader G. Parameshwara on taking charge of Karnataka as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively.
“I congratulate H. D. Kumaraswamy Ji and Parameshwara Ji on taking oath as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. My best wishes for their tenure ahead,” Modi said in a tweet following the swearing in ceremony in Bengaluru.
