Swearing-in ceremony might get delayed due to heavy rain

A heavy downpour could dampen H D Kumaraswamy’s oath-taking as chief minister, an event that has drawn the nation's attention.

Kumaraswamy is slated to take oath on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha, where a huge dais has been set up with seating arrangements for one lakh people including 3,000 VIPs. As it began to pour, officials scurried to cover the VIP seats with tarpaulin.

Thousands of JDS and Congress supporters who had gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha ran helter-skelter taking cover from the rains. A few of them were seen using banners, chairs, and placards to protect themselves to take cover from the rain. Police personnel deputed for security too ran into their buses and a few of them took cover under barricades, private vehicles, trees, and the Vidhan Soudha main gate and the BMRCL Metro station.

The city police were not prepared for such a rain as policemen had no rain jackets. The city administration too did not expect the rains, not having put up any kind of shelter even for VIPs or for the general public. The huge LED screen along with the circuit too got wet in the rain as it had no cover. Detailed preparation over three days to accommodate nearly a lakh of the audience expected at the venue got affected because of rains.

The expected swearing-in ceremony scheduled at 4.30 pm could be delayed a bit later, hinted police sources. Rains started slowing down from around 3 pm even as policemen were seen getting back to duty and preparing the venue for the ceremony.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu among others have arrived to take part in Kumaraswamy’s oath-taking.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav among others are also scheduled to arrive.