Karnataka’s newly appointed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, sworn in as the new chief minister of the state. The swearing-in ceremony was held at 11 am today. Bommai is a close confidant of former CM BS Yediyurappa. The 61-year-old is an MLA from the Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district in North Karnataka. He is the son of the former chief minister and ex-Union minister, the late SR Bommai.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi showed his confidence in Basavaraj Bommai the newly appointed Chief Minister . He also said that no decision has been taken regarding the appointment of deputy CMs. The party leaders will decide on the matter.
Basavaraj Bommai’s appointment will help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to placate the Lingayat voter base. His elevation will strengthen BJP’s role in the North Karnataka region. Bommai belongs to the powerful Sadar subsect of the Lingayats. Considering the polity of Karnataka, his appointment will keep the Lingayat vote base intact.
Secretary of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, H.M. Renuka welcomed the BJP’s decision. He said, “Although the Lingayats community is still hurt with the resignation of BS Yediyurappa, however, it is likely that the community will accept Bommai as a consensus candidate.”
Considering the vote bank, the Sadar sect plays a significant role in the Karnataka state assembly elections. Statistically out of the BJP’s 41 Lingayat-Veerashaiava legislators, 10 members belong to the Sadar subsect.
Bommai was earlier associated with Janata Dal-United. In the year 2008, he joined the Bhartiya Janata Party. He has a moderate image in the opinion of the public. Bommai met the Governor of Karnataka Thaawarchand Gehlot late at night on the pretext of forming the government in the state.
Bommai expressed his gratitude towards the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and referred to the former CM Yediyruappa as his mentor. He said he will perform his duty and take the economy forward in the critical times of Covid 19.