It was well worth the wait for the thousand-odd Congress workers, leaders and supporters of Siddaramaiah, who had patiently stood by the toll gate on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, to catch a glimpse of their leader who will take charge as the chief minister of the State on Monday.
A tired looking Siddaramaiah arrived here a few minutes after 9 pm along with a huge security entourage. The people, who could no longer hold their enthusiasm, rushed to him and greeted him.
They adorned their 'Mysore Dore' with huge garlands, a Mysore peta, and presented him with a silver sword as a finishing touch, while the air resounded with the bursting of crackers.
Siddaramaiah, who is visiting Mysore for the first time after he was elected the Congress Legislature Party leader, will be making a visit to his birth place Siddaramanahundi on Sunday morning, where he will offer a special puja at the Siddarameshwara temple. From there, he will head to the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills, and then to the Suttur Mutt. He spent the night at his house in the City.
Siddaramaiah, who left Bangalore by around 5.30 pm, could reach Mysore only after 9 pm, thanks mainly to the many supporters who wanted to greet and garland him all along the Bangalore-Mysore highway.
