Pics: Nithin Pereira
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jun 3: Congress workers across Udupi district celebrated the swearing-in of D K Shivakumar as the new chief minister of Karnataka with enthusiasm and festive fervour on Wednesday.
In Kinnimulki, Udupi Congress Campaign Committee president Krishnamoorthy Acharya distributed sweets among party workers and local residents to commemorate the occasion.
As part of the celebrations, Krishnamoorthy Acharya also visited the temple at Kannarpady and offered special prayers seeking blessings for the success of the new government and the welfare of the people of Karnataka.
The celebrations continued in various parts of the district. At the District Congress office in Brahmagiri, party leaders and workers gathered in large numbers to witness the oath-taking ceremony, which was telecast live on a screen. Congress supporters cheered and applauded as Shivakumar took the oath of office, marking what they described as a historic moment for the party.
Firecrackers were burst as Congress activists rejoiced over the party leader assuming the state's highest office.
Party workers expressed hope that the new leadership would fulfill the aspirations of the people and accelerate developmental initiatives throughout Karnataka.
Speaking on the occasion, Krishnamoorthy Acharya said that D K Shivakumar, whom he described as a leader of party workers, had taken oath as the 25th chief minister of Karnataka. He said around 25,000 sweets were distributed as part of the celebrations and that essential items such as cookers and fans were distributed to students at 12 schools for specially-abled children. He further stated that prayers would be offered to Goddess Durga with 136 bundles of flowers, symbolising the 136 Congress MLAs in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
Recalling a previous visit by Shivakumar to Kinnimulki during last year's Ganeshotsava celebrations, Krishnamoorthy Acharya said party workers had then wished that he would become chief minister before the next Ganeshotsava. "That wish has come true today, and therefore we are celebrating this occasion with great joy," he remarked.
Krishnamoorthy Acharya also noted that the rain received in Udupi on Wednesday morning was seen by many party workers as a sign of blessings, while the favourable weather during the evening enabled them to conduct the celebrations without interruption.
Congress workers expressed confidence that the new leadership would fulfil the aspirations of the people and accelerate developmental initiatives across Karnataka.