JDS ministers won't take oath with Yeddyurappa

It will be an all Bharatiya Janata Party affair on Monday when B S Yeddyurappa takes over as chief minister of Karnataka. The Janata Dal Secular has decided to swear-in its ministers at a later stage.

The decision was taken at the JDS legislature party meeting held on Sunday. While it became clear that H D Kumaraswamy will take over as the deputy chief minister, the meeting, however, decided to let seniors party leaders to decide on the matter.

H D Kumaraswamy said his father and JDS supremo, H D Deve Gowda, party spokesperson Meerajuddin Patel and senior leader M P Prakash will take a final call on this matter.

Kumaraswamy also clarified after the meeting that there was no rift between him and brother H D Revanna for the post of deputy chief minister. He said he will abide by the decision of the senior leaders.

Party sources, however, said that it was almost final that Kumaraswamy will take charge as the deputy chief minister. The legislators are in favour of him taking up the post as they feel that he would be able to provide stability to the government.

Even at the meeting, all legislators voted unanimously in favour of Kumaraswamy as the deputy chief minister. Kumaraswamy had earlier said that he was not interested in the post and would prefer to work for the party. He is, however, expected to give in to the pressure exerted by the legislators who swear by him.

The JDS will take a final call on its portfolios after a meeting of the senior leaders scheduled to be held later on Sunday evening. The JDS says that the ministers and the deputy chief minister will take oath together. However, the party did not specify the time and date for the same.