DV Sadananda Gowda was Thursday sworn in as Karnataka's 20th chief minister at a brief ceremony on the lawns of Raj Bhavan in Bangalore. The rebel BJP faction in Karnataka headed by Jagadish Shettar today boycotted the swearing-in ceremony
Governor HR Bhardwaj administered the oath of office to Gowda as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) second chief minister in south India at 4.30 p.m.
The rebel BJP faction in Karnataka headed by Jagadish Shettar boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister , again bringing into sharp focus the deep division in the ruling party.
However, a glum-faced Ananth Kumar and the party's state unit chief K S Eshwarappa, the two leaders who propped up Shettar against Gowda, who is outgoing chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's choice, were present in the Raj Bhavan.
Earlier Gowda drove to Shettar's residence, where MLAs backing him were having breakfast, and invited them to attend the swearing-ceremony at Raj Bhavan but it didn't work as the sulking legislators boycotted the event.
In sharp contrast, Yeddyurappa's camp was jubilant as he appeared relaxed and shared some light moments with MLAs supporting him and repeatedly flashed the "victory" sign.
{{/usCountry}}In sharp contrast, Yeddyurappa's camp was jubilant as he appeared relaxed and shared some light moments with MLAs supporting him and repeatedly flashed the "victory" sign.
{{/usCountry}}Gowda had defeated Shettar in a secret ballot at the Legislature party meeting on Wednesday.