Provides platform for UPA partners to get together
Bengaluru : The 75 year-old Siddaramaiah began his second innings as Karnataka Chief Minister in presence of over dozen non-BJP leaders from across the country and the grand event attended by 60,000 people at the kanteerava sports stadium. Siddaramaiah took oath in the name of ‘God’ while the last time around he had taken oath in the name of ‘truth’. His Deputy, D K Shivakumar, took oath as Deputy CM along with eight other senior MLAs. The oath was administered by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. From Belgavi to Haveri and from Davangere to Hassan, all road in the state appeared to lead to the Kanteerava stadium in bengaluru as thousand flocked to see siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar take oath. Many struggled to vain to get into the stadium , and road around teemed with supporters who donned congress caps and green shawls and waved masks with siddaramaiah’s visage.
While UPA chief Sonia Gandhi did not attend the event reported due to health reason, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi shared the dais with host of prominent faces from non-BJP parties , including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, TN CM M K Stalin and for J& K CMs Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. PM Narendra Modi, in his message congratulated Siddaramaiah on taking oath as Karnataka CM and DK Shivakumar on taking oath as deputy CM. My best wishes for fruitful tenure.
The first cabinet meeting of the newly sworn-in Siddaramaiah gave its in-principle approval for the implementation of the five big poll promises by the Congress that are expected to cost the state exchequer a whopping Rs 50,000 crore annually. In his first press conference Siddaramaiah said, “No matter how much money is required for the schemes, we will implement them as promised”. He said the government in its first cabinet meeting, initiated the process to implement the five poll guarantees. “The guidelines and other details of the scheme will be worked out before the next cabinet meeting and date of implementation will be announced,” he added.
UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, in her statement said, I am proud that the first cabinet meeting has approved the immediate implantation of our five guarantees. Congress remains committed to prosperity, peace and progress of Karnataka, she added.
Massive show of strength swearing-in ceremony proves platform for UPA partners to get-together as top functionaries from the host of anti-BJP parties came together at swearing-in ceremony of the siddaramaiah led congress government turning the event in bengaluru into a platform for members of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to regroup ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Siddaramaiah, in one of his first promises after being sworn in as chief Minister , said his government will soon revive Popular Indira Canteens across the state. ” I have asked officials for status report onn Indira Vanteens, based on the report, we will take corrective measures and revive them,” He said.
Although the original plan was to administer oaths to 28 ministers alongside siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, only eight ministers were worn in reportedly due to factional fight between the camps of CM and Deputy. Karnataka has sanctioned cabinet strength of 34, but it does not look like an expansion will take place anytime soon. Insiders say although a list 28 names was ready, an intense tussle between the two factions in Delhi forced the high command to delay releasing all names.
