Watch: How Basavaraj Bommai’s family welcomed the new Karnataka CM

Basavaraj Bommai, the new chief minister of Karnataka, was given a musical welcome by his family after his name was chosen for the top post.

In a video clip going viral on social media, Bommai’s family and relatives could be seen singing, clapping and celebrating his selection for the top post. Grooving to the tunes of a popular Kannada song “Neene Rajkumara”, which means “you are the prince”, Bommai’s family members surrounded him as he sat on a couch, smiling and enjoying the grand celebration.

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In the video, 61-year-old Bommai was also seen inviting his wife, standing on the other side of the room full of family members, to come and sit next to him. Chennamma Basavaraj, all smiles, made her way towards the couch and sat beside him.

Bommai, a Lingayat leader like his predecessor BS Yediyurappa, took oath as Karnataka’s chief minister on Wednesday. He was picked for the chief ministership on Tuesday, a day after BSY, as Yediyurappa is often referred to, resigned, ending weeks of speculation over his exit.

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The celebration by his family just added to the statement by the new Karnataka CM just before taking oath that his family was “very dear to him” and that he was “lucky to have such a lovely family.”

Bommai’s wife Chennamma said her husband’s promotion was because of the blessings of God and his hard work. “We feel that the hard work of Basavaraj has paid off. We feel that he will do good work as he had done during the COVID time,” she said.

“As a chief minister’s wife I would ask him to do work that benefits all,” she added.

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Bommai comes from a political background as his father SR Bommai served as chief minister of the state during 1988-1989 from Janata Dal United. Basavaraj Bommai joined the BJP in 2008 and since then held several important posts in the government. He was seen as a close aide of the outgoing chief minister BS Yediyurappa.

Bommai’s appointment is seen as a calculated move by the BJP to hold on to its loyal supporter base, the Lingayats, who constitute around 16 percent of the state’s population and could impact results in around 100 seats in the 224-member assembly. The community had thrown its weight around the outgoing CM Yediyurappa, who at 78 was three years over the BJP’s defined age for retirement.