Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is a three-time MLA from Shiggaon in Haveri district.
Basavaraj Bommai took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister today, succeeding BS Yediyurappa who resigned on Monday. Mr Bommai was sworn-in by recently-appointed Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot in a brief ceremony in state capital Bengaluru. Mr Yediyurappa was present on the stage.
Mr Bommai, 61, was picked for the top post in Karnataka at a meeting of BJP MLAs yesterday. He met Mr Yediyurappa today, ahead of the swearing-in. He also offered prayers at a temple in Bengaluru.
On Day One as Chief Minister, Mr Bommai will chair a meeting of the cabinet. He will also to review COVID-19 and the flood situation in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mr Bommai, saying he brings with him rich legislative and administrative experience. "I am confident he will build on the exceptional work done by our government in the state. Best wishes for a fruitful tenure," he tweeted.
In a separate tweet, the Prime Minister praised BS Yediyurappa for his work for the party and the state. "No words will ever do justice to the monumental contribution of Shri @BSYBJP Ji towards our Party and for Karnataka's growth. For decades, he toiled hard, travelled across all parts of Karnataka and struck a chord with people. He is admired for his commitment to social welfare," PM Modi said.
A three-time MLA from Shiggaon in central Karnataka's Haveri district, Mr Bommai is a politically powerful Lingayat leader like Mr Yediyurappa and was among his close confidantes. The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community forms 16 per cent of Karnataka's 68 million population.
He was Minister for Home Affairs, Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislature in Mr Yediyurappa's council of ministers which was dissolved on Monday.
The son of Janata Dal's SR Bommai - a former Chief Minister of Karnataka in the 1980s - Mr Bommai joined the BJP from the Janata Dal United in 2008, along with 22 others JDU functionaries. He told NDTV that he "never expected it" and had faith only in his "hard work".
He was a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council twice. He served as political secretary to former Chief Minister JH Patel and was also Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Council.
Since crossing over, Mr Bommai has remained a close confidant of Mr Yediyurappa and has risen in the party ranks.
A mechanical engineer by training, he worked for Tata Motors in Pune for three years before turning entrepreneur.
Ending weeks of speculation over his exit, Mr Yediyurappa on Monday tearfully announced his resignation as Chief Minister, coinciding with his government completing two years in office.