Humour in the hall, courtesy Kamal Nath

Congress leader Kamal Nath unwittingly injected humour into the sombre swearing-in ceremony of the new government on Friday when he began to take his oath before President Pratibha Patil could prompt him, and then started walking off without signing the register.

Congress leader Kamal Nath unwittingly injected humour into the sombre swearing-in ceremony of the new government on Friday when he began to take his oath before President Pratibha Patil could prompt him, and then started walking off without signing the register.

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Perhaps a little too eager to be sworn in as minister, Kamal Nath walked up and said in Hindi "Main Kamal Nath" much to the amusement of the gathering at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He then paused, smiled bashfully and continued after Patil began the oath.

Even the normally impassive Prime Minister Manmohan Singh broke into a smile at the gaffe.

Unfortunately, there was more in store for the seasoned politician. After the president administered the oath, Kamal Nath began to walk away before the mandatory signing of the register, triggering a fresh round of laughter. He soon realised his mistake and then backtracked.