‘Will not take flowers or shawls, give books if you want to express your love’: Karnataka’s new CM Siddaramaiah

New Delhi: A day after taking over as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that he would prefer books to people over flowers or shawls given as a mark of respect at various events.

Siddaramaiah said on his official Twitter account, “I have decided not to accept flowers or shawls from people who often give it as a mark of respect. This happens during both personal and public events.”

The Congress leader said that if people want to express their love and respect as a gift, they can give books.

He said, “May your love and affection be upon me.”

I have decided not to accept flowers or shawls from people who often give it as a mark of respect.

This happens during both personal and public events.

People want to express their love and respect as a gift, then they can give books.

Love and affection to all of you… – Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 21, 2023

Siddaramaiah also asked the Bengaluru Police to withdraw zero traffic protocol for him, a decision he said he took keeping in mind the problems faced by the people.

He tweeted, “I have taken this decision after seeing the problems being faced by people traveling where there is a restriction due to ‘zero traffic’.”

I have asked the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, to withdraw the ‘Zero Traffic’ protocol for my vehicular movement.

I have taken this decision after seeing the difficulties being faced by people traveling from the stretch where there are restrictions due to ‘zero traffic’. — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 21, 2023

Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka at a grand ceremony in Bengaluru on Saturday, while state Congress president DK Shivakumar was sworn in as ministers along with eight MLAs as his deputy. A galaxy of opposition leaders, including chief ministers of some non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled states, participated in the mega event in a show of solidarity with the Congress party to take on the saffron camp in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

75-year-old Siddaramaiah became the CM for the second time since 2013 after his earlier five-year term.

Subsequently, the new government, in its first cabinet meeting soon after the swearing-in ceremony, gave an ‘in-principle’ approval to five ‘guarantees’ of the Congress ahead of the May 10 Karnataka assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference, Siddaramaiah cited estimates and said that the implementation of the poll assurances would cost the exchequer around Rs 50,000 crore annually. He insisted that the pre-poll assurances would be implemented irrespective of the financial implications, if any.

In the elections to the 224-member assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, while the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.