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BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP was on Friday sworn in as the chief minister of Karnataka.

He heads the very first BJP government in south India and he has got a tricky balancing act ahead.

This time round, the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa will not have to worry quite so much about being destabilised by the intrigues of the Gowda family.

But that does not mean he is guaranteed a smooth ride.

The power of the three Reddy brothers and their friend Sreeramulu - incredibly rich mining barons from Bellary - has already been demonstrated.

Three of this group of four have been given Cabinet berths - with reportedly a demand made for the powerful Home portfolio.

When asked about the role being played by the Reddy brothers in this government, Yeddyurappa replied, "They are part and parcel of the government. They are our cabinet colleagues."

"No, I am not demanding home ministry. It is left to the chief minister," said Karunakara Reddy, minister, clarifying his point.

And the five crucial independents - persuaded by the crorepati Reddys to support the BJP - have all been given cabinet berths.

This will not be Yeddyurappa's first time as Karnataka CM, his ministry earlier had survived for just a week in November last year, when the JD(S) government had collapsed.

Yeddyurappa's one week as chief minister may have been the shortest term in the state's history, but after six months of President's rule, the BJP is back to form the government and this time with 110 seats under them.

Of the 224 member Assembly, BJP won 110 while the JD(S) won just 28.

Yeddyurappa's support also depends on six independent MLAs for a majority but this time BJP feels more secure than they did with the Gowda family.

The BJP's manifesto promised to redefine the poverty line to Rs 60,000 for a family and also provide a cyber cafe in every village.

There were also promises made for Bangalore - new drinking water source and a metropolitan transport authority to deal with the major traffic problems.

There is a long task list for south India's first BJP government.

Given the turbulent politics in Karnataka over the last few years - he and his ministers will hope that this chapter is a peaceful one.

Meanwhile, resentment over the cabinet berth in Karnataka has already surfaced.

In Hubli, five buses were stoned while another was set afire after former BJP state president Jagdish Shettar was not given a cabinet berth.

Shettar had won from Hubli-Dharwad central. There are also reports that at least 11 councillors are ready with their resignations if Shettar is not given a berth.

Source:NDTV

The latest results of the by-elections in Andhra Pradesh has come as a setback for the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) while it has risen hopes for the Congress.

Congress, which earlier did not have much presence in the region, has established leads in two Lok Sabha constituencies and four Assembly seats, whereas, the TRS has managed to win two Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats.

Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrashekhar Rao has won in Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency by a slender margin of 15,289 votes, a steep fall compared to over 2.20 lakh majority that he got in the 2006 election.

Rao, whose party had forced the by-elections by en masse resignations, had suffered initial setback when he was trailing but managed to sail through with a far reduced margin.

The ruling Congress nominee and former minister T Jeevan Reddy gave a tough fight and ended up with 2,53,479 votes, while the TRS chief polled 2,68,768 votes.

The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) candidates were leading in four assembly constituencies.

TRS candidate S Ramalinga Reddy has defeated his nearest TDP rival C Muthyam Reddy by 5,142 votes in Dommat assembly by-poll.

In Siddipet, TRS nominee T Harish Rao won by a margin of 58,935 votes over his Congress rival B Anjaiah.

However, TDP's M Hanumantha Rao has established a lead of 10,124 in Ramayampet assembly segment over the TRS.

The bypolls were held on May 29 to four Lok Sabha and 18 assembly elections in the state.

Crucial polls

It's a big day in Andhra Pradesh as counting of votes has started for the by-elections which took place on Thursday.

The by-elections are largely seen as a referendum on the Telangana statehood issue.

These polls are taking place less than a year before Andhra Pradesh goes to polls in 2009 because four Lok Sabha members of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and 16 of their MLAs resigned in March.

The elections are seen as an acid test for TRS, led by K Chandrasekar Rao, which has been spearheading the statehood movement since its inception in 2001.

Many say that it is an unnecessary election and the idea behind is to hopefully win their seats again and show to the UPA leadership that there is a strong Telangana sentiment which Delhi needs to recognise.

Source: NDTV