The BJP formed a government in Karnataka on Friday evening but it wasn’t B.S. Yeddyurappa who became chief minister.

Instead, the one taking the oath of office was B.S. “Yediyurappa”, which is how the BJP leader now spells his name, trading a “d” for an “i”.

This was the spelling he had always used till late 2007, when he changed it to “Yeddyurappa” on an astrologer’s advice.

A party source said the veteran had “recently” reverted to the original spelling on his personal astrologer’s recommendation. It’s unclear whether the same stargazer was behind both alterations.

“He has changed the spelling of his name in his Aadhaar card and other documents,” the source confirmed, adding that the amendment would soon be reflected on his office nameplate and BJP websites.

The letter the former chief minister sent to governor Vajubhai Vala on Friday staking claim to form the state government also carries the spelling “Yediyurappa”.

“I think he restored the old spelling because the switch to ‘Yeddyurappa’ did not bring the desired luck,” the party source, who declined to be named, said.

The first modification had come after a string of political disappointments for the “Lingayat strongman”, as Yediyurappa is known.

In February 2006, Yediyurappa had done the unthinkable by helping H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal Secular to form a coalition government. The deal was considered a coup as the JDS leader had pulled out of an alliance with the Congress.

The understanding was that Kumaraswamy and Yediyurappa would split the remaining 40 months of the 12th Assembly as chief minister. But after the first 20 months, Kumaraswamy refused to hand over the hot seat and dumped the alliance, leaving Yediyurappa high and dry.

After a brief spell of President’s rule, Yediyurappa did form the government on the strength of the BJP being the single largest party, but his rule lasted only seven days because he failed to prove his majority.

This was when he changed the spelling of his name to “Yeddyurappa”. Initially, the new spelling seemed to be paying dividends. Yeddyurappa led the BJP to power in the state in May 2008, helping his party break its “southern jinx”.

But his tumultuous tenure was cut short in August 2011 when he had to resign after being accused in land scams and spent 25 days in jail custody.

His next shot at power came last May when, under him, the BJP again emerged as the single largest party in a hung Assembly. The first to be invited to form the government, Yeddyurappa lasted just six days as chief minister this time as the Congress and Kumaraswamy tied up an alliance.

“The change to ‘Yeddyurappa’ didn’t fetch good results --- he never lasted a full term as chief minister,” the party source said.