Congress leader Siddaramaiah today formally took charge as Karnataka’s new Chief Minister after taking oath and completing formalities at a massive event in Bengaluru. Top Opposition leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, CPI’s D Raja, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, PDP’s Mehbuba Mufti, Sharad Pawar from NCP, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, and actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan, were in attendance in a symbolic display of Opposition unity against the BJP.
Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, who was locked in a dramatic battle with Siddaramaiah for the top job for a week after his party’s emphatic win, took oath as the solo Deputy Chief Minister. Eight cabinet minister, approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge this morning, are also being sworn-in.