Jagan Reddy took oath as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister at a grand event in Vijayawada
Highlights
- Jagan Reddy took oath at a grand event in Vijayawada
- 46-year-old led his party to big, decimating Chandrababu Naidu's party
- Mr turned down his invite for swearing-in; KCR, MK Stalin attended
Jagan Mohan Reddy, who led his party to a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh, took oath as the Chief Minister of the state on Thursday in the presence of nearly 30,000 people. He is the second Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh post its bifurcation.
Jagan Reddy, 46, was administered the oath by Governor ESL Narasimhan at 12.23 pm at a grand public function in Vijayawada. He got a hero's welcome as he reached the venue in an open jeep with folded hands, with hundreds of party workers and supporters cheering as his convoy passed.
Only Mr Reddy took oath Thursday and his council of ministers is expected to be sworn in on June 7.
N Chandrababu Naidu, who was virtually decimated by Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress, turned down the latter's invite to the swearing-in. Mr Naidu chose to send a delegation of his party to congratulate Mr Reddy at his home before the ceremony.
Among the VIPs in attendance were Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and DMK chief MK Stalin from Tamil Nadu. The two leaders were seated on the stage along with Jagan Reddy's mother, wife and sister.
Mr Reddy and Mr Rao, who were scheduled fly to Delhi for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in this evening for a second term, cancelled their plans this afternoon. Instead, the newly-appointed Chief Minister hosted a lunch for KCR and Mr Stalin.
Christian, Islamic and Hindu prayers were recited by priests on stage as Jagan Reddy prayed after formally taking up the top job.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi congratulated Mr Reddy on Twitter after the swearing-in.
The YSR Congress bagged 151 of the 175 seats in the state assembly and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, handing out a huge blow to Mr Naidu's Telugu Desam Party.
On Sunday, Mr Reddy had met PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi. With PM Modi, he discussed several issues including the special category status for his state.
Mr Reddy is the son of one of Andhra Pradesh's most popular Chief Ministers, YS Rajashekhara Reddy, who died in a chopper crash in 2009. The 46-year-old, who inherited his father's supporters, still had to make his mark at the head of a new party formed in 2011. The moment came during his two foot marches - the last one over the special status for Andhra Pradesh, undertaken last year.
It was Jagan Reddy's push for the a special status that is said to be at the bottom of Chandrababu Naidu's move to part company with the BJP and join the opposition camp.