The first BJP-led government in South India will assume office on Monday when the saffron party leader BS Yeddyurappa is sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister.
In all probability, 65-year-old Yeddyurappa alone will be administered oath office and secrecy by Governor Rameshwar Thakur in the wake of JD(S) deciding to join the ministry at a later stage.
Sources in JD(S) said all the 18 ministers of the party, including its deputy chief ministerial candidate, will be sworn-in either on November 18 or 19 but did not divulge the reasons behind such a decision.
Till yesterday, it was understood that a nominee of JD(S) will take oath as deputy chief minister along with Yeddyurappa. However, a meeting of JDS Legisalture Party here today elected former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy as its leader and decided that the 18 ministers representing the party will take oath in one go.
Majority of MLAs in JDS favoured Kumaraswamy for the deputy chief minister's post.
However, BJP, in a bid to present a picture of unity, has been trying to persuade its partner to name its deputy chief ministerial candidate so that a two-member ministry could be installed tomorrow.
In the event of JDS sticking to its present plans, the party might allow three or four of its legislators to take oath along with Yeddyurappa, sources in BJP said.
{{/usCountry}}In the event of JDS sticking to its present plans, the party might allow three or four of its legislators to take oath along with Yeddyurappa, sources in BJP said.
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