The real reason why KCR is skipping the H D Kumaraswamy swearing in ceremony

The list of those attending the swearing-in-ceremony of H D Kumaraswamy is a star studded one. The Chief Ministers of Odisha and Telangana, Naveen Patnaik and K Chandrashekar Rao will however give the event a skip.

While Patnaik's office says that he has never attended a swearing in ceremony, in the case of KCR pressing engagements have been cited. KCR had however flown into Bengaluru on Tuesday and met Kumaraswamy. During the election campaign, KCR had also appealed to the Telugu voters to back the JD(S).

KCR's absence would be a downer for the joint opposition which has been putting up a show of unity to take the BJP head on. KCR's problem is not about being identified with the joint opposition.

He would not want to share the stage with the Congress leaders. The Congress is his main opposition in Telangana and he would not to identify with the party especially when polls in his state are due next year.

KCR has been making attempts to stitch up a federal front for the 2019 elections. He had termed this front as both anti-BJP and Congress. He is trying to bring in all other parties together minus the Congress to form the front.

Another prominent leader who would skip the event is the DMK's M K Stalin. Stalin, who was also expected to be present in order to show the burgeoning opposition consolidation against the BJP, has cancelled his Bengaluru visit and would instead head for Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu where nine people were killed in police firing on Tuesday.