Hyderabad, Sep 3 - Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K. Rosaiah Thursday took oath as the state's caretaker chief minister.

Governor N.D. Tiwari administered the oaths of office and secrecy to Rosaiah at the Raj Bhavan.

The 76-year-old leader will serve as the caretaker chief minister till the Congress legislature party elects a new leader.

The simple ceremony was attended by Law & Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily, who is also in charge of Congress party affairs in the state, Minister of State in Prime Minister's office Prithviraj Chavan, and state Congress president D. Srinivas besides some state ministers.

'Usually one feels happy while taking oath but I have taken oath as the caretaker chief minister with a heavy heart. Since this is a constitutional requirement, I agreed to serve as caretaker chief minister till a new leader is elected,' Rosaiah told reporters after the ceremony.

He later drove to the state secretariat to preside over the cabinet meeting.

Rosaiah was sworn in caretaker chief minister following the death of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash Wednesday.