UTK prefers to visit his constituency as many Cong MLAs rush to Delhi to lobby for berth

Mangaluru/Bengaluru, May 26: Even though the families have been anxiously waiting for their homecoming, many senior Congress MLAs rushed to Delhi to lobby for cabinet berths after chief minister H D Kumaraswamy won trust vote on yesterday.

Congress sources said most MLAs checked out of Hilton Hotel, where they were asked to stay before trust vote. “It’s up to them to decide where they want to go. Most of them have headed for New Delhi to lobby for ministerial posts,” a source said.

Congress sources said after accommodating former ministers and senior leaders in the 22 berths allocated to the party, they will still be left with eight to 10 berths which will be given to senior members and youngsters.

Amidst this development, U T Khader, the lone Congress MLA from twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, who had served as the Minister for Health and Family Welfare for three years and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs as two years in the previous government, preferred to visit his home constituency, Mangaluru, on Saturday.

“It’s up to the high command. I will abide by the party’s decision. I need not to lobby for any post,” Mr Khader replied when media persons asked him about the possibilities of his entry to HDK-led Cabinet, which is yet to take shape.

Mr Khader also brushed aside the media rumours about JD(S) chief general secretary B M Farookh trying to prevent the former from becoming a minister.

“Don’t pay heed to such baseless rumours. I am a Congress leader and Farookh is a JD(S) leader. But, we share friendly relations. There is no competition between us. It is wrong to portray him as my bete noire,” Mr Khader said replying to another question.

He said that his priority always will be the development of his constituency and solving the problems of the people of his constituency.

He said that the work has already commenced to prevent sea erosion at Kotepura, Kodi and Mogaveerapatna. A permanent mini breakwater will be constructed in places like Kaiko, Subhas Nagar, and Hilary Nagar under ADB project worth Rs 14 crore. Tender has been invited for the project.

The construction work of temporary mini sea wall of 900 meters from Someshwara to Talapady at the cost of Rs 4.75 crore also has been started, he said adding that the district administration also has been gearing up for monsoon.