BENGALARU, May 20:
Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister in a grand ceremony here on Saturday and the new dispensation held its first Cabinet meet that gave an in-principle approval to implement its poll promises, estimated to cost the exchequer about Rs 50,000 crore annually.
A galaxy of opposition leaders, including Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled States, took part in the mega event signifying solidarity with the Congress party to take on the BJP next year in the Lok Sabha elections.
Heralding the return of the Congress government after a gap of five years, leaders shook hands warmly and embraced each other at the ceremony.
The new government at its maiden Cabinet meeting, soon after the swearing-in ceremony, accorded “in-principle” approval to the Congress’ five ‘guarantees’ promised before the elections. Siddaramaiah, addressing a press conference later, cited estimates and said implementing poll assurances would cost the exchequer about Rs 50,000 crore a year. He asserted that the pre-poll assurances would be implemented notwithstanding the financial implications, if any.
State Congress President D K Shivakumar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, along with eight legislators as Ministers at the event held exactly a week after the party swept the Assembly polls in Karnataka.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here, where Siddaramaiah had taken oath in 2013, when he became CM for the first time.
The legislators who were sworn in as ministers are: G Parameshwara, K H Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge (AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge’s son), Ramalinga Reddy, and B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.
Among eight MLAs inducted into the Cabinet, three are SCs, and one each from Christian, Lingayat, ST, Reddy and Muslim communities. Siddaramaiah is a Kuruba and Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community. (PTI)
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