Karnataka Governor Khurshed Alam Khan administered the oaths of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the portals of Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, amid intermittent bursting of crackers and raising of slogans by Congress workers. Krishna, who has opted for the ministry formation in one swoop, has retained tried and tested colleagues in the new squad, which has 21 members with ministerial experience, four women and six from the minorities -- five Muslims and a Christian.

Opposition leader in the dissolved Assembly Mallikarjun Kharge, an aspirant who failed to make it to the Chief Minister's post, former KPCC chiefs, K H Ranganath and Dharam Singh, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council H K Patiland former Assembly speaker D B Chandregowda are among the heavyweights.