Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained why he chose to wear a scarf and not his usual towel.
A light exchange of views over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s headscarf added a touch of humor to proceedings in the legislature on Wednesday.
Responding to the budget debate, Mr. Siddaramaiah explained why he chose to wear a scarf and not his usual towel. “When I wear a towel, it slips when I bend over. A scarf stays in place when worn around the neck,” he said, prompting laughter in the House.
The Chief Minister explained that it was a pure Mysore silk scarf. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar quipped that it cost around ₹ 13,500, which Mr Siddaramaiah confirmed with a smile. He also joked that he was not aware of the type of scarf Mr Shivakumar was wearing and suggested that it might be woolen.
Amid questions from the opposition whether the scarf was a gift from Mr. Shivakumar, Mr. Siddaramaiah clarified that it was not. “There is no science behind wearing a headscarf, no Rahu or Gulika or anything,” the chief minister remarked, continuing to joke.
JD(S) member GT Deve Gowda, who had a towel over his shoulder, joined in to support the chief minister’s explanation.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok remarked that even the Speaker was wearing a headscarf. Mr. Siddaramaiah replied that it was because of a photo shoot scheduled for the day, prompting further laughter as several members, including Mr. Ashok, were seen sporting formal scarves for the occasion.
Published – 25 March 2026 18:58 IST
