Summary:
“Muslim candidates visit numerologists and astrologers during election time,” said a Congress leader. Another astrologer said most nominations could be filed on Friday and Monday as celestial cues are strong for some candidates. In coastal districts, candidates make offerings to the demigods before filing nominations. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is known to scoff at rituals, has also turned devout, sources said. In Haveri, North Karnataka, candidates don woolen blankets and, armed with a stick, spend an entire day grazing sheep as they believe it brings them good luck..