SHIFTING OATH CEREMONY

The oath-taking ceremony was postponed thrice. It was not trouble from coalition partners or even internal partymen which caused it. The Jd(s)-congress initially wanted it on Sunday but due to non-availability of the Governor who was said to be travelling, they had to grudgingly postpone it. Next, based on varying opinions of multiple astrologers consulted by them, Wednesday was chosen as the next best day but the ‘auspicious’ time kept shifting. Initially it was set to be at 12pm, was moved to 2.30pm, before a panel of astrologers decided on 2.12 pm. The muhurat chosen was in ‘Kanya Lagna’ (Virgo). HD Revanna, CM’S elder brother who is a big believer, was the one who managed to take oath first within the designated time.

Many names of God

The ceremony usually reveals the individual beliefs that the ministers-to-be follow in their life. So while almost everybody took oath in the name of god, others were more specific to please the deity of their choice. Ramesh Jarkiholi of Jarkiholi clan took oath in the name of ‘Lakshmi Devi’. None of his legislator brothers — Satish, who is also in Congress and missed out on being a minister, and another brother Balachandra, who is an MLA from BJP — were to be seen. Shivanand Patil, a Lingayat minister from JD(S), took oath in the name of

Anna (brother) Basavanna — the 12th century social reformer, Rajashekar Patil took oath in name of Veerabadhreshwara (a form of Shiva), independent MLA now associated with Congress R Shankar swore in the name of Mylara Lingeshwara (which he specified was his family deity). N Mahesh, the lone

BSP MLA to take oath, swore in the name of Buddha, Basava and Ambedkar.