Mysore/Mysuru: Former Chairman of Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) L.R. Mahadevaswamy took charge as the Mysuru (Rural) District BJP President at the BJP office in Chamarajapuram here on Monday, coinciding with Sankranti festival.

Mahadevaswamy was among the other BJP District Presidents appointed by the party high command on Sunday.

Mahadevaswamy, said to be a close associate of State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, had earlier served as Mysuru Taluk Panchayat President, as Varuna Assembly Constituency BJP Yuva Morcha President and as Mysuru Rural District BJP Yuva Morcha President. He also functioned as ZAK Chairman during the previous BJP Government.

MP Pratap Simmha, former Ministers S.A. Ramdas, Kote M. Shivanna and C.H. Vijayshankar, former Mayor Shivakumar, former MLC Thontadarya, party leaders M.V. Ravishankar, Siddaraju, Dr.  Anil Thomas, Giridhar, Vaneesh, Phaneesh, M.J. Kiran Gowda, Vasanthkumar and others were present.