Bangalore: Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala was sworn-in as the 16th governor of the state at the Raj Bhavan on Monday September 1.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues, union ministers from state and BJP leaders were present. Vala’s family members, friends, and a cabinet minister from Gujarat had come to witness the swearing-in ceremony. Chief Justice of high court of Karnataka DH Weigela administered the oath.
Vaju Vala, 76, was Gujarat assembly Speaker and one of the senior-most BJP leaders in Gujarat. Vala made a humble beginning with the RSS in 1970 and it has been a long journey from being mayor of Rajkot to a legislator and minister. He has presented the state budget a record 18 times. BJP leaders in Gujarat maintain that Vala was reluctant to accept the new assignment initially given his roots in Gujarat.
Vala became Modi’s trusted aide when he became the first senior BJP leader to vacate his Rajkot assembly seat for the latter when he was sent to Gujarat to replace Keshubhai Patel in October 2001.
A degree in law, Vala is known for his knowledge of parliamentary procedures. He pioneered the emergence of co-operative banking sector in Rajkot and was first elected in 1985 as MLA from Rajkot-2 and became a state minister in 1990. From 1996 to 1998 and 2005 to 2006, he also held the post of the state BJP president. In 2013, Vala was appointed speaker of the assembly.
Siddaramaiah, who had earlier expressed his unhappiness against the Centre over the mode of appoint of the new governor, appeared to have forgotten the discontentment as he was seen all smiles during the entire event.
