Karnataka:Two Independent MLAs' join JDS-INC government

R Shankar and H Nagesh, both Independent members of state Legislative Assembly were today inducted into the state ministry as cabinet ministers in the HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JDS)-Indian National Congress(INC) alliance government.

By this move, the leaders of the coalition parties have been successful in ensuring both the Independent legislators from crossing over to the 105 members strong main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party. It's no public secret that the saffron party leaders of the state have stumbled a handful of times in trying to install a government of their own.The BJP needs at least 113 members in a house of 224 to form a government but lady luck has been shying ever since the new Assembly was constituted after the May 2018 general elections.

R Shankar in fact won on a Karnataka Prajakeeya Janata Party(KPJP) ticket from Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district.The party launched by Upendra, the maverick Kannada actor and film maker drew a blank across the state but for in Ranebennur.Even in Ranebennur, R Shankar decided to contest from the actor's new party only after failing to bag a ticket to contest on behalf of the Congress party. KH Koliwad,former Speaker who retained the Congress ticket bowed down to R Shankar.

The very next day after counting of votes got over and a piquant situation arose wherein both, the BJP and INC were in no better situation to form a government R Shankar played a double game. In the morning he accompanied by KS Eshwarappa, former BJP Deputy Chief Minister and new Shivamogga MLA went to the house of BS Yeddyurappa, state BJP president for extending support to form a government.But by evening he sprung a surprise by emerging in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) office and made an announcement of supporting the Congress party in enabling it to assume power.

He belongs to the shepherd community to which both, Siddaramaiah, former Congress chief minister and KS Eshwarappa belong to.The same R Shankar was dropped during a similar cabinet expansion exercise in December 2018 for refusing to join the Congress party. However this time around merging his party alongwith Congress is one of the main conditions for swearing him for the second time within six months as a minister.

H Nagesh, a former IRS officer after failing to get the Congress party ticket jumped into the fray as an Independent and also triumphed from Mulabagal SC reserved constituency ensuring the defeat of the official Congress candidate.He was also dilly dallying alongwith R Shankar in switching over to the BJP for green pastures but however was prevailed upon by the Congress bigwigs with an assurance of suitable compensation for his gesture to support.

The two Independent MLAs' who defeated the official Congress candidates are now new cabinet ministers but most of all those who were nursing dreams about becoming the same are now literally on the cross roads.Ramesh Jharkiholi, former Belagavi district in charge minister and Gokak Congress MLA, whose moves of camping at distant Mumbai with a few party MLAs' had sent shocking waves to the ruling parties. He kept on daring the highcommand with frequent outbursts of bidding adieu to the parent party and joining hands with the BJP.

But till date nothing of that sort has happened and on the other hand the number of legislators who were claimed to be with him and their numerical strength is said to be dwindling.BC Patil, former cop turned politician and four time Congress MLA from Hirekerur in Haveri district had also made a claim to the cabinet berth on a Lingayat quota. Off late he had also been quite vocal in his attack against the party, but continues to miss the cabinet bus once again.

R Roshan Baig, seven time Shivajinagar MLA has placed a step outside the Congress and looks to be joining the BJP soon if his change in public rhetoric towards the latter can be taken into consideration.R Ramalingareddy, former minister and eight time Congress MLA from the city has been embarrassing the party higher ups' for depriving him a cabinet position while including much younger and new blood.

HK Patil continues to find fault with his own party government's decisions every now and then. There are many others within the Congress who appear to be adhering to a wait and watch policy. But whether such watching will help the BJP in forming its own government or pave way for the collapse of the present government needs to be seen.

-Manohar Yadavatti

When Punjab Chief Minister's Son Was Paraded On Underwear

Year, 1959, Place Amritsar. Some Indian Army Officers & their wives went to the Railway Station to see off one of their colleagues. Some goons made lewd remarks against the women & tried to molest them. The Army Officers chased the goons who took shelter in a nearby Cinema Theatre. The matter was reported to Commanding Officer Col Jyothi Mohan Sen. On learning about the incident, the Col ordered the Cinema Hall to be surrounded by troops. All the goons were dragged out, the leader of the goons was so heady and drunk with power; he was none other than the son of Chief Minister of Punjab, Pratap Singh Kairon, a close associate of the then PM, Jawahar Lal Nehru. All the goons were stripped to their underwear, paraded in the streets of Amritsar & later interned in the Cantonment. The next day, the Chief Minister became furious & tried to release his son from Indian Army's incarceration. Do you know what happened? His vehicle was not allowed to go into the Cantonment a...

Basavanna: Equality, Humanity and Human Rights

Bengaluru: Akshaya Trutiya is the birthday of Lord Basaveshwara or Basavanna, the 12th-century revolutionary poet and religious reformer who rebelled against all blind beliefs, practices and rituals of Hinduism. It also goes to his credit of bringing God to one’s palms while simultaneously and vehemently opposing the tradition of visiting temples and places of pilgrimages in search of the almighty. Interestingly, unfortunately, or sadly what his followers or disciples have been doing all along would be another separate topic for discussion and better to forget for the time being. A Hindu Protestant: Dr Godwin Shiri, former Director of Christian Institute For The Study Of Religion And Society (CISRS), Bengaluru, during an informal interaction, opined-“Basavanna can be aptly described as a Hindu Protestant as he was in the forefront of opposing blind beliefs”. Influenced by Buddha: Mallikarjun G Kelagade, former Director of the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) kee...

Dharwad's Arya Durga, Rukmini and Saraswati...: From Nothing to Crores and Crores...

Bengaluru: Arya Durga Kirani Stores, with Rukmini and Saraswati outlets, are household names for all those residing in and natives of Dharwad. It was a humble and austere beginning, dating back a few decades, thanks to hard work, sincerity, and trustworthy behaviour with customers, the business flourished and grew in leaps and bounds in an unimaginable proportion. Started working at the age of eight years! The owner, late Gajanan Vitthal Shetti, was primarily from Ankola in the North Canara (Karwar) district. Ankola, a coastal town, is renowned for its Salt Satyagraha during the freedom struggle movement. The financial condition of Shetti's family was too critical, making it too difficult to meet even the basic demands of day-to-day life. He began working at a ration shop while he was only eight years of age and continued working until he became 15 years old. Mahalakshmi Hotel boomerangs: Then Gajanan Vitthal Shetti came to Hubballi to do business. He came with his father, Vitth...

MY Articles

Search This Blog