Crowds throng YSR's swearing-in

Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was sworn-in the 22nd Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at the Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Governor Narayan Dutt Tiwari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Reddy amidst a huge gathering of people, including MPs, MLAs, bureaucrats and other dignitaries.

Reddy took the oath in Telugu. After administering the oath, Tiwari blessed the chief minister. He also blessed the Reddy's wife Vijayalaxmi and grandson. The CM's son and MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, his wife and other family members watched the proceedings from among the audience. Reddy took the oath alone. He is expected to constitute his Cabinet on May 22.

Text: Mohammed Siddique in Hyderabad

More than a lakh people from all parts of the state flooded the sprawling stadium and its surroundings to see their leader taking the oath for the second term as chief minister.

The surging crowds were so huge that they spilled out on the roads and most saw the oath taking only on LCD screens ouside the venue.

The stadium echoed with the slogans of  Jai Ho Congress and Jai Ho YSR. Visibly moved by the overwhelming response from the people, the chief minister concluded his speech by repeatedly thanking the people for their mandate.

"Thank you Tammudu, Thank you annayys, Thank you Chelli, thank you Akkayya" (Thank you younger and elder brothers and sisters") he said.