Will coastal Karnataka get CM post after two decades?

[email protected] (CD Network)
July 29, 2011

SVS_CORRCT
Mangalore, July 29: Will the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi pop up the next chief minister of Karnataka?

Although there are some big names doing the rounds including that of Ananth Kumar, Jagadeesh Shettar and KS Eshwarappa – the three names considered to be the dark horses are from the coastal districts.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP DV Sadananda Gowda appears to have grabbed the pole position among the three local contenders with Shobha Karandlaje, also from Puthur, and Dr. V.S. Acharya waiting in the wings.

The last chief minister to emerge from the coastal belt was Veerappa Moily in 1992-94, who had to demit office after JDS emerged victorious in the subsequent Assembly elections, leading to the installation of HD Devegowda's government.

With BS Yeddyurappa continuing his bargaining exercise with the party high command the probability of former Mangalore MP Sadananda Gowda becoming the next chief minister has increased even as the BJP legislative party is scheduled to meet later in the day to elect the new leader.

Yeddyurappa appeared to have given in when he sent off the resignation letter to Nitin Gadkar, the BJP national president on Thursday night, but the conditions laid down by the Lingayat strongman has become a big headache for the party.

He has insisted that he would resign only on 31st of July and reminded the high command once again that he had toiled hard to bring the party to power in Karnataka over the last 30 years. He has also held a meeting of MLAs and MPs in Bangalore at his residence early on Friday.

Though the names of Jagadish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa, Ananth Kumar and Shobha Karandlaje are doing the rounds, the tainted chief minister is adamant that he should be given the right to choose his successor, given the long legal battle the Shikaripur MLA is likely to face once he demit s office in the wake of sever indictment by the Lokayukta over the issue of illegal mining.

It is also learn that giving the mantle to heavyweights like Shettar, Eshwarappa and Ananth Kumar would be a risky exercise because of his ongoing political rivalry with all the three leaders.

By hoisting Sadananda Gowda, the Chikmagalur-Udupi MP, Yeddyurappa wants to keep the remote control of the government with him and also ensure that he remains the unquestioned leader of the Lingayat community.

Another major condition laid down by Yeddyurappa appears to be that he be made the State president of the party. Although, the party highcommand is not averse to such an idea, a section of the party high command and also the RSS, believes that making the tainted chief minister the face of the party in Karnataka will sully the image of the party when elections are just a couple of years away.

Making Yeddyurappa the party president would also be a risky proportion for the party in the event of him being dragged to court and prosecuted by the Lokayukta over the mining report.

The high command will also have to face an embarrassing situation in the event of him being made the party president, with Congress likely to go for the jugular questioning the moral right of the BJP to talk about corruption.

The chances of Sandananda Gowda emerging as the surprise candidate has also brightened by the fact that he had been summoned by the high command, who held wide-ranging discussions during his stay in Delhi.

Interestingly, Mr Gowda also was closeted at chief minister's residence on Friday morning for a couple of hours giving credence to the claim that he is Yeddyurappa's candidate for the coveted post.

However, it is also speculated in some quarters that he is trying to hoist Gowda as the candidate to pave the way for Shobha Karandlaje to be made the chief minister in the event of a strong opposition emerging from the party legislators that the coveted position must go to a legislator and not an MP. The proximity of Shobha to the beleagured cheif minister is well documented and the lone woman minister in the cabinet had conducted a special pooja at Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore and had climbed the thousand-odd steps bare-footed even as Yeddyurappa was facing the biggest crisis of his life.

Emerging from the meeting with Yeddyurappa, Gowda refused to talk to the media, but has already maintained that he would happily take up any responsibility the high command gives him.

Yeddyurappa's strong preference towards Sadananda Gowda also stems from the fact that he belongs to the Vokkaliga community and this would help him take on the mighty H.D. Kumaraswamy and

However, Gowda does not have the pristine image that the BJP national executive is being led to believe by his supporters. Gowda allegedly encroached upon 20 acres of forest land in Sullia taluk, Mangalore violating several laws in the process. A complaint was filed with the Loyayukta.

Another candidate from the Mangalore-Udupi region, who could be catapulted to the top job is Dr. V. S. Acharya. A seasoned politician, Acharya has been a veteran of sorts and considered to the RSS representative in the government.

He also has a clout in the high command and the party old guards including Advani and Joshi would back him if the party decides to go for a candidate with a clean image. Making Acharya, a Brahimin, the chief minister will also be seen as the party acknowledging the unflinching loyalty shown by the upper castes to the saffron party over the last few decades.



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News Network
March 15,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 15: Work from home to using toilets in malls, residents of India's 'Silicon Valley' Bengaluru are exploring all options to combat the unprecedented water crisis. People across various neighbourhoods have been forced to order food from restaurants and take bath on alternate days due to the water scarcity.

Even those in high-rise apartments equipped with water harvesting systems now find themselves reliant on water tankers for basic needs, leading to stringent usage restrictions.

Eateries are mulling over use of disposable cups, glasses and plates to avoid excess use of water.

Educational institutions are also feeling the pinch. Recently, a coaching centre in the city asked its students to attend classes online due to an 'emergency' for a week. Similarly, a school on Bannerghatta Road was also closed, asking students to attend classes online just like they did during the Covid pandemic.

Residents have come with up new methods to try and conserve water. With temperature rising, it is difficult to avoid a daily shower but they are left with no option but to take bath on alternative days, said Sujatha, a resident of KR Puram.

"What to do? Clean vessels, cook food, wash clothes....so, we have started using paper plates, that way we have cut down on our water usage. And we order food twice a week. We are using the washing machine only once in a week now," she said.

Some others have resorted to visiting a mall to take a shower or use the toilet facilities.

Lakshmi V, an IT professional living in Singasandra, has been requesting her firm to allow WFH option so that she and her family can temporarily shift to her native place in Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu until the situation becomes better.

"If the situation persists, we are thinking of seeking a work from home option. We are planning to move to our native place in Tamil Nadu temporarily till rain arrives here," she said.

Bengaluru primarily gets its water supply from two sources - Cauvery river and groundwater. For most non-drinking uses, recycled water processed by sewage treatment plants is used. With no rain for a while now, the primary sources have been stretched to their limits. Bengaluru needs 2,600-2,800 million litres of water daily, and the current supply is half of what's required. The result is a daily struggle for the city's residents.

The brunt is also being borne by people living in the outskirts of Bengaluru, especially in 110 villages that were merged with the city in 2007.

The crisis has also turned into a political battle between the state's ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP with Lok Sabha just weeks away. While the BJP has held several protests blaming the government, the Congress has accused the BJP-ruled federal government of not providing financial assistance to drought-hit Karnataka.

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News Network
March 28,2024

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Mangaluru, Mar 28: A fish meal factory in the Baikampady Industrial area in Mangaluru was gutted in a fire incident on Thursday, officials said.

The factory is owned by the company 'Shihar Enterprises', they said.

According to the locals, the fire was first noticed at 4.45 am today, which was immediately reported to the fire department.

The fire engines reached the spot and tried to douse the fire, but it had already spread to other parts of the factory. After almost four hours of fire-fighting operation, the blaze was completely doused, officials.

The reason for the blaze is still being probed, the fire department officials said, adding that they suspect an electric short circuit could have triggered it.

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News Network
March 27,2024

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Hassan: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda has announced that his son, former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will contest from state's Mandya parliamentary seat as NDA candidate.

Deve Gowda told reporters on Tuesday that the decision to field Kumaraswamy, who is also JD(S) state president, in Lok Sabha polls from the Mandya seat was taken amid mounting public demand. "People are demanding that Kumaraswamy should contest from Mandya. In the core committee meeting as well, all members suggested that he should contest from Mandya," Deve Gowda said.

The former Chief Minister's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy had lost to independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The JD(S) supremo further said that the name of senior leader Mallesh Babu has been finalised from the Kolar seat.

Deve Gowda's grandson and former Karnataka Minister H. D. Revanna's son sitting JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna will be contesting as the NDA candidate from the Hassan seat.

Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy in a media briefing indicated that he would contest from Mandya amid mounting public pressure on him.

Congress has fielded Venkatarame Gowda popularly known as ‘Star Chandru’ from the Mandya seat dominated by Vokkaligas. Star Chandru is a close associate of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

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