ALL SET: BJP State unit President Jagadish Shettar (second from right) inspecting the preparations for the swearing-in cermony at the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh and Chief Ministers of States ruled by the BJP will be here on Friday to witness the swearing-in of the party's first-ever government in the south.

The new coalition partners — the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP — will organise a public meeting at the Kanteerava Stadium immediately after the ceremony at the Vidhana Soudha.

Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister-designate will take oath of office in front of the colonnades holding up the main dome, which proclaim the lofty words, "Government Work is God's Work", coined by Kengal Hanumanthaiya, who built the grand edifice.

However, to the disappointment of BJP leaders and workers, former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani will not attend the ceremony.

According to BJP sources, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani, who were keen on participating in the ceremony and indicate their happiness at the induction of the party into governance, do not want to embarrass former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who is yet to come to terms with his son H.D. Kumaraswamy's rebellion.

They feel it will be inappropriate for them to be seen to rejoice when the Janata Dal (S) supremo is unhappy with Mr. Kumaraswamy for disobeying his directive.

Spokesman of the BJP's State unit S. Suresh Kumar said more than one lakh party workers and sympathisers will attend the swearing-in ceremony and witness Mr. Yediyurappa take oath of office. More than 2,000 vehicles carrying party workers and supporters from many parts of the State are expected to arrive.

The Department of Protocol has directed employees of government departments who have their offices in the Vidhana Soudha to report for duty at 2.15 p.m. on Friday as the Secretariat will be closed during the swearing-in ceremony to provide security for dignitaries attending the function.

However, the stretch of the Vidhana Veedhi in front of the Vidhana Soudha will remain open to traffic. This will enable members of the public to witness the ceremony, which may last 10 minutes.

BJP State unit President Jagadish Shettar and R. Ashok, MLA and General Secretary, are in charge of the arrangements for the ceremony.

The BJP is eager to make Karnataka its "gateway to the South". There seemed to be a fierce competition between members of the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP to put up banners, buntings and flags on the main thoroughfares around the Vidhana Soudha, such as Bellary Road, Palace Road, Raj Bhavan Road and T. Chowdiah Road. The flags of both parties were seen at many intersections. According to sources in the Janata Dal (S), more than 30,000 people from the Ramanagara Assembly constituency represented by Mr. Kumaraswamy will attend the function.

Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh has announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government, to be held on the Grand Stand of the Vidhana Soudha, is open only to invitees.

Only those with invitation cards will be allowed entry to the venue, according to a press release from Mr. Singh.

Those who have been issued car passes should also produce the invitation card to enter the venue. Only one person will be allowed per invitation card, the release said.

Parking of vehicles of invitees with car passes will be allowed on the southern side of the Vidhana Soudha.

The entry of invitees will be from the south-east side of the Vidhana Soudha, the release said.

Security

The police have heightened security around the Vidhana Soudha in view of the swearing-in ceremony. About 2,000 policemen, including 40 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 30 platoons of the City Armed Reserve and 150 women police personnel, will be deployed.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi told The Hindu hat there will be no disruption of traffic as entry to the ceremony is limited to invitees.

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