Kaveri, the official residence of Jagadish Shettar on Kumara Krupa Road, wore a festive look on Tuesday. Thousands of supporters from North Karnataka thronged the house, celebrating the induction of Shettar into the BS Yeddyurappa cabinet.
There were at least 10 buses and 20 taxis parked outside Kaveri on Tuesday morning, as people from North Karnataka visited the capital just to witness the occasion.
The celebrations lasted all day — from before the swearing-in ceremony that was held at the Raj Bhavan at 11.30am, to well into the evening.
Food was ordered from the Halli Mane hotel to serve all those attending the celebrations.
Shettar was garlanded several times over by relatives, followers and well-wishers.
Bouquets were seen piled up at the house. All of the state’s legislators from North Karnataka were seen camping here.
It is one-and-a-half years since Shettar has been the state’s speaker, absent from active politics.
When the first south Indian government of the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed in the state in May 2008, Shettar’s supporters hoped that he would be part of the ministry.
However, he was offered the post of speaker.
The party witnessed some tense moments before the high command agreed to induct Shettar into the state’s cabinet.
Mohan Limbikayi, a party worker from Dharwad, said, “Shettar has earlier been leader of the Opposition party in the assembly, and he served as revenue minister in the BJP-JD(S) coalition. By virtue of his seniority in the party, he is eligible to be a minister.”
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