BS Yeddyurappa takes oath as new Karnataka Chief Minister

Amid the political slugfest over his swearing-in, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for the third time.

Draped in a green shawl on his white safari suit, BS Yeddyurappa took the oath as Karnataka chief minister in the name of God and farmers amid chants of "Modi, Modi" and sloganeering at the Raj Bhavan.

The venue was all decked up for the culmination of a dramatic turn of events that had unfolded since the fractured mandate on May 15 with the BJP emerging as the single largest party but falling short of the majority.

As Governor Vajubhai Vala administered Yeddyurappa the oath of secrecy and office, the man of the moment chose to take oath in the name of God and the farmers of Karnataka.

The 75-year old Lingayat strongman, who became chief minister for the second time, was projected in the run-up to assembly election as 'Raitha Bandhu' - the friend of the farmers.

Before leaving for Raj Bhavan, Yeddyurappa paid his obeisance at the Radhakrishna Temple here.

He was accompanied by his sons B Y Raghavendra and BY Vijayendra, senior party functionaries including union ministers D V Sadananda Gowda and Prakash Javadekar and BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao.

Amid Vedic hymns and playing of musical instrument 'Naadaswaram', the special prayers were performed.

After the swearing in, Yeddyurappa drove to the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, and bowed at the entrance steps before entering his office as the new chief minister of the state.

(With inputs from agencies)