Bangalore, Aug 4 (IANS) D.V. Sadananda Gowda Thursday took over as Bharatiya Janata Party's second chief minister in Karnataka with the immediate task of uniting the party split over his leadership and proving he is not a proxy of his scam-hit predecessor B.S. Yeddyurappa.


The 58-year-old Gowda took oath alone at Raj Bhavan at a simple ceremony boycotted by several legislators including former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar, who he defeated narrowly for the post Wednesday.

However, state party chief K.S. Eshwarappa and Bangalore South Lok Sabha member and general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, who had backed Shettar, were present at the ceremony.

Governor H.R. Bhardwaj administered the oaths of office and secrecy to Gowda at 4.30 p.m on the lush green lawns of Raj Bhavan.

Gowda took oath in Kannada in the name of god.

Yeddyurappa, former BJP ministers, opposition leaders, top civil and police officials, Gowda's family members and hundreds of his supporters were present.

Shortly after taking oath, Gowda entered the chief minister's chamber at Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat) where Hindu priests performed 'puja'. Gowda's wife Datty, son Karthik, former higher education minister V.S. Acharaya and senior official were present.

After the 'puja', Gowda took the chief minister's seat.

Gowda, who represents the party in the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, has to be elected to the state legislative assembly or nominated to the legislative council within the next six months to continue as chief minister.