Karnataka govt formation: CM Kumaraswamy to take floor test on Friday

Billed as a show of strength by Opposition and regional parties against Modi and BJP, H D Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony saw the likes of Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee share the dais

Janata Dal (Secular)'s H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday took oath in Bengaluru's Vidhan Soudha as the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka, while Congress' G Parameshwara took oath as Deputy Chief Minister, administered by Governor Vajubhai Bala.

Kumaraswamy said he will take the floor test on Friday to prove the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government enjoys the majority in the house.

Several prominent Opposition leaders and chief ministers attended the ceremony and used it as a "show of strength" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others, attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet congratulated Kumaraswamy on taking charge of Karnataka as Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said that "hunger, greed and power" were the basis of the JD(S)-Congress alliance, adding that such an alliance would "not even last three months".

Ahead of taking the oath, Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said he would be under certain limitations in a coalition government and would take consent of the Congress, adding he would waive farm loan once he improves the state's economic condition.

"They (Congress) too have their own programmes in their manifesto. We have to compile the manifesto of two parties and after improving the economy of the state, we will waive farm loans. There is no question of my backtracking," said Kumaraswamy after he visited Chamunda Hill to worship revered Goddess Chamundeshwari in Mysuru.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader also appealed to the farmers to not take any drastic steps and to keep faith in him.

"I want to tell the people of the state not to give in to any fear. Give up your obsession for caste. I don't belong to one community but the 6.5 crore population of the state and I am only a public servant," Kumaraswamy added.

Here are the top updates around H D Kumaraswamy's swearing-in as the Karnataka Chief Minister:

1. H D Kumaraswamy swears-in as Chief Minister: JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and Congress's G Parameshwara on Wednesday took oath as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, administered by Governor Vajubhai Bala at Vidhan Soudha.

"I will take the floor test on Friday to prove that our coalition government has a majority in the Assembly," Kumaraswamy told reporters after taking oath as Chief Minister in front of the state Secretariat building here.

2. Opposition's show of strength: Several prominent leaders of Opposition attended the ceremony, including United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, among others.

3. Kumaraswamy appeals to keep faith: Ahead of the ceremony in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy visited Mysuru to worship Goddess Chamundeshwari. Speaking to reporters, the JD(S) leader said he will be under certain limitations due to the coalition government. 

He appealed to the farmers to not take any drastic steps, adding once the economy of the state improves, he will waive the farm's loan.

4. Congratulations pour in for CM:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara after they took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively, among others.



5. BJP's "Anti-People's Mandate Day":The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday observed 'Anti-People's Mandate Day' in Karnataka ahead of the formation of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government in the state.

BJP president for Karnataka and former Chief Minister, B. S. Yeddyurappa, led the demonstrations in Bengaluru, saying "the alliance would not even last three months".

6. Floor test on Thursday: The Congress-JD(S) government will face its floor test in the House on Thursday. The Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will be named on Thursday and the names of the Cabinet ministers and their portfolios will be announced after the floor test.

7. Naidu to bring up Andhra's special category status demand: Chandrababu Naidu said he was going to Bengaluru to speak to leaders of all regional parties "to muster support for securing special category status" for Andhra Pradesh.

   

8. Will Odisha see a repeat of Congress-JD(S) formula? According to BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress might enter into a "tactful understanding" to keep the BJP out of power in Odisha in the 2019 elections. However, Oram said that would have no impact on BJP's poll prospects.


 

With agency inputs