As the JD-S made a grand comeback in Karnataka politics after over a decade of political isolation with HD Kumaraswamy taking oath as the state's 24th chief minister at the Vidhana Soudha, on Wednesday evening, the focus was as much on him as the line-up of Opposition leaders on the dais with him.


Even if it was just a photo-op on a Kumaraswamy's big day, the possibility of a united opposition to take on the BJP wasn't far from anyone's mind. Who will be the leader? How will they stitch up their differences? Will it survive the push and pull of coalition politics?


Answers will have to wait. For now, the cheering crowds before the Vidhana Soudha, braving surprise showers looked at dais on the steps of the magnificent State Assembly and whistled and clapped as heads of Opposition parties held hands, embraced, laughed and posed ahead and after Kumaraswamy's swearing-in. For the first time ever, SP's Akhilesh Yadav and BSP's Mayawati shared the stage, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee shook hands with arch political rival CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury, moments that will define the occasion.


This was 58-year-old Kumarawamy's second term as the chief minister of Karnataka since 2007, when he last held the post for 20 months.