Crowds waited for netas, and netas for the stars to align during Karnataka's swearing-in ceremony

BENGALURU: As 25 legislators of the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) took oath as ministers in the coalition government at a jam-packed Glass House inside the sprawling Raj Bhavan, police personnel had a tough time controlling the large number of supporters gathered both within and outside Raj Bhavan to witness the swearing-in ceremony.

City police top brass including, Commissioner T Sunnel Kumar were on the job at the main entrance to Glass House. Every time, a VVIP entered Glass House, their followers would try to force their way inside, making it difficult for the police to manage the situation as people had come from different parts of the state in large numbers.Some leaders seemed to have ensured the presence of their followers inside Raj Bhavan when they took oath. D K Shivakumar, G T Deve Gowda and U T Khader were welcomed with loud cheers when they walked up to the dais to take oath.

Going by seniority, Congress leader R V Deshpande should have been the first to take oath, but JD(S) leader and Kumaraswamy’s brother H D Revanna was the first to take oath. “He strongly believes in astrology, and was particular about the time he would take oath, which was at 2.20 pm as per the suggestion of his astrologer,” a source revealed. The source added that apart from Revanna, quite a few other MLAs took oath after requesting the authorities to adjust the timing according to their horoscope.
While everyone took oath in Kannada, Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan took oath in English. BSP MLA Mahesh took oath in the name of Buddha, Basava and Ambedkar.

Outside the Governor’s house, the Raj Bhavan Road was cordoned off by the city police for supporters of those who were inducted in the ministry had gathered in large numbers. Supporters of the newly inducted ministers were seen taking out mini rallies along the stretch of the road and raising slogans in favour of their leader.

Three huge LED screens were installed outside the Raj Bhavan for supporters who couldn’t make it inside to witness the swearing-in of their leaders. Police personnel, deputed for security outside the Bhavan had a tough time controlling the flow of followers who wanted get inside to greet their leaders.

Since the number of people who turned up at the venue far outnumbered the issued passes, police personnel were seen convincing people that they could not be allowed inside for want of passes.
Ashok Gowda, who had travelled from Mysuru to witness the event said that he was happy that leaders from his community were at the helm of affairs. “At least now woes of farmers will be taken seriously,” he said.Two leaders who had the largest delegations of supporters thronging the venue were the Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and Zameer Ahmed Khan.