Benagluru: While many are yet undecided if the coalition government between Janata Dal (S) and Congress in Karnataka will complete its full term, reports suggest that the present chief minister too has reasons to worry about the fate of his government.
While the coalition is not that much of a worry for Kumaraswamy, the myth surrounding the steps of the Vidhana Soudha and the “inauspicious” CM residence Anugraha surely are. For someone who checks auspicious timings while attending important functions, the jinxed steps spelled the need to consult an astrologer before taking the oath as chief minister. Several erstwhile chief ministers of the state, Ramakrishna Hegde, S Bangarappa, S M Krishna, Dharam Singh, B S Yeddyurappa – to name a few, had taken their oaths on these steps and had failed to complete their term.
Devaraj Urs and Siddaramaiah are the only two chief ministers who completed their five-year term. Notably, while Devaraj Urs took his oath at Raj Bhavan, Siddaramaiah had taken his oath at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium.
It was Hegde who became the first chief minister to have used this platform for the swearing in ceremony. The only minister who came close to breaking the curse of the jinxed steps was S M Krishna. However, the myth found its way back when Krishna dissolved the assembly just before completing his term.
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy has opted to play it safe when it comes to his official residence. As per reports, Kumaraswamy has preferred to stay at the much-smaller chief secretary’s residence near Balabrooie rather than occupying Anugraha, the official residence of the chief minister. Similar to the steps, the Anugraha too is believed to be jinxed and that no chief minister who has occupied the official residence has completed their term.
Among the leaders who occupied the residence and failed to complete their term are H D Deve Gowda, S M Krishna, Dharam Singh and Sadananda Gowda. This, despite several changes being made to the “vaastu” of the House.
If Kumaraswamy opts to stay at Anugraha, the new chief secretary who will come in place of Ratna Prabha will have to be installed in another residence, said a source.
