Agencies/Bengaluru
D V Sadananda Gowda yesterday took over as Bharatiya Janata Party’s second chief minister in Karnataka with the immediate task of uniting the party split over his leadership and proving he is not a proxy of his scam-hit predecessor B S Yeddyurappa.The 58-year-old Gowda took oath alone at Raj Bhavan at a simple ceremony boycotted by several legislators including former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar, who he defeated narrowly for the post on Wednesday.However, state party chief K S Eshwarappa and Bangalore South Lok Sabha member and general secretary H N Ananth Kumar, who had backed Shettar, were present at the ceremony.Governor H.R. Bhardwaj administered the oaths of office and secrecy to Gowda at 4.30pm on the lush green lawns of Raj Bhavan.Gowda took oath in Kannada.Yeddyurappa, former BJP ministers, opposition leaders, top civil and police officials, Gowda’s family members and hundreds of his supporters were present.Shortly after taking oath, Gowda entered the chief minister’s chamber at Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat). Gowda’s wife Datty, son Karthik, former higher education minister V S Acharaya and senior official were present.Gowda, who represents the party in the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, has to be elected to the state legislative assembly or nominated to the legislative council within the next six months to continue as chief minister.As many as 45 MLAs skipped the ceremony, upset that their nominee Jagadish Shettar had been defeated. The powerful Reddy brothers, who are senior ministers and mining barons, known for their clout in the party were also missing from the event.Another point of discomfort for the BJP was also paraded – B S Yeddyurappa was very much a star at the ceremony, hugging Gowda who he hand-picked as his successor. Several BJP members were seen touching Yeddyurappa’s feet. Turning to the cameras, Yeddyurappa flashed the victory sign.And indeed, while Gowda may have the title, it’s Yeddyurappa who has won. When he was forced to resign over the weekend over charges of corruption, Yeddyurappa made it clear to his party that his exit was contingent upon him selecting his replacement. The BJP didn’t agree, so Yeddyurappa whipped up a show of strength among his supporters - about 65 MLAs - who said they would back whoever Yeddyurappa wanted as chief minister. That’s how Yeddyurappa walked Gowda to the chief minister’s office.Earlier Gowda had claimed that he had convinced Shettar and his aides to attend the swearing-in ceremony. But shortly after lunch, Shettar’s group indicated otherwise. They want key Cabinet posts like the finance and home portfolios to be assigned among their members and for Shettar to be named deputy chief minister.Sources said six Cabinet ministers were scheduled to be sworn-in yesterday along with Gowda. That this didn’t happen is attributed to possible behind-the-scenes negotiations between the new chief minister and Shettar’s group.But there is little confusion in the BJP about who will call the party’s shots. Yeddyurappa told government officials just 48 hours ago that he would “be back within six months.”
‘I am not Yeddyurappa’s proxy’New Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda yesterday asserted that it was wrong to say that he would do whatever his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa wants. “Time will give answer,” he said at his first press conference shortly after taking oath as Karnataka chief minister. On Yeddyurappa’s statements that he would be back as chief minister within six months, Gowda said it was not wise to talk about the future in politics. “Many have said that they will rule for five years but had to leave office earlier for some reason or the other,” said Gowda, who will be in office for only 22 months as the term of the assembly expires May 2013. Referring to boycott of the swearing-in ceremony by former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar, Gowda said many could not come because of various reasons. Gowda praised Yeddyurappa, saying he had in the last three years launched several pro-people development policies.