The former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Deve Gowda on Sunday took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Gowda, 87, was in June elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. Moreover, for the first time, a JD(S) leader has become a member of the Upper House since 1996.

After taking oath, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu remarked that he is a "good addition to our House".

"Former prime minister and one of the senior-most leaders of our country have come to our house," he said.