Plethora of rituals mark Sadhvi's Coronation

This story and pictures which were exclusive to Hindustan Times happened because you as a journalist or fotog build relationship within the seats of power so that you could be tipped of their movements thus ensuring that your newspaper dose not miss anything. I got a call on December 11th, 2003 morning asking me to come to the residence of Uma Bharati since she was heading towards her new office to assume charge as the first woman Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state. This call came from one of her closest supporters since I had developed a cordial relationship with the person. I would not like to name the person since he/she still has the well wishes and support of the firebrand leader.
I quickly rushed to her home only to see her car leaving the main gate so I followed her all along the route and what you get to see is the Sadhvi's religious side.
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After a fleeting visit and customary Cabinet meeting the day she took oath of office, Chief Minister Uma Bharati's first day in the office today was marked by a stream of visitors in the form of top bureaucrats and long meetings with trusted aides and ministers Kailash Vijayavargiya and Dr Gaurishankar Shejwar.
But not before the Sadhvi, with a tonsured new look after offerings at Balaji Temple in Tirupathi, had said her long prayers and fed fruits to beloved bovines on her way to Vallabh Bhawan.
Mow we know why she refused to sit on the Chief Minister's chair on the day she took oath. Perhaps, she was waiting untill after a visit to Tirupathi and different kinds of puja ceremonies at the Chief Minister's office to seek divine blessings.
Since Digvijay Singh Government was ousted summarily on the twin planks of bad roads and power crises, it was apparently in order that she held long meetings with Kailash Vijayavergiya- trusted ally and PWD Minister and Dr Gaurishankar Shejwar- who holds the key Energy department among others.
Secretariat sources said that the nature of all her meetings today was informal, more in the introductory form with the bureaucrats.
However, the issues of road and power were discussed with the respective ministers in broad terms.
Decisions regarding the Cabinet meeting on Friday afternoon were taken at the Chief Minister's meeting with the officials.

EVILS EXORCISED
As soon as she entered the office, Pandit Pandey and his assistant started the ancient Hindu rituals for propitiation of God and exorcising evils. The Puja went on for more than 10 minutes amidst chanting of mantras. Uma remained standing all through as directed by the priest.
Those present on the occasion were her new Secretary R Parasuram, Chief Secretary AV Singh, Uma's elder brother Swami Lodhi, BJP Organization Secretary Kaptan Singh Solanki, her trusted aide Shailendra Sharma and a host of others.
After she took the seat, the new Chief Minister asked the priest to apply 'Tilak' to the foreheads of all the people present in the room, to which they readily obliged.