Is CM Siddaramaiah on the chopping block?

April 28, 2016

Bengaluru, Apr 28: The Congress high command has kept the state party leaders guessing on the changes it might bring in, in the wake of complaints mounting against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

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The Congress loyalists and old-timers hope that the high command will finally act and prevent Siddaramaiah from further damaging the party's image. However, those loyal to the chief minister are confident that their leader will once again sail through this turbulent phase.

A section of the party MLAs, who are also aspiring to become ministers, are left speculating on the much-awaited reshuffle of the Council of Ministers.

Siddaramaiah has been facing the heat from his own partymen following a series of missteps in the past few months, including accepting a diamond-studded wristwatch as a gift, setting up the Anti-Corruption Bureau and thereby weakening the Karnataka Lokayukta, and awarding a government contract to set up a superspecialty laboratory to a company owned by his younger son, Dr Yathindra.

Siddaramaiah baiters grabbed the opportunity immediately and complained to the high command. They are mounting pressure on the high command to change the leadership. Former chief minister S M Krishna has taken the lead in this regard.

Even Congress state president G Parameshwara met AICC president Sonia Gandhi a few weeks ago in Delhi and apprised her of the controversy over the chief minister favouring his son.

Though the central leadership has made it clear that the high command was upset with Siddaramaiah and that it would soon take an appropriate measure, neither the leadership nor the high command has so far given any clue as to how it would deal with the possible upheaval in Karnataka. While some believe that Siddaramaiah will be shown the door, the chief minister's staunch followers say the high command will not run the risk of antagonising the backward classes by unceremoniously removing him.

Siddaramaiah's followers are of the view that the party will pay a heavy price if it upsets the backward classes who are in sizeable numbers in Karnataka.

The backward classes used to remain scattered all these years. So, they were never considered as a vote bank. But Siddaramaiah has successfully brought them all together after becoming the chief minister, they argued. At the most, Siddaramaiah may go in for a Cabinet reshuffle, they said.

Appointment denied?

Siddaramaiah baiters are claiming that the high command has been denying appointment to him in the last few days. The chief minister had sought appointment at least thrice this month to discuss the demand made by a section of the MLAs to reshuffle the council of ministers. But the high command has refused to give him an appointment. Instead, it directed him to tour the drought-affected areas.

The high command has no time to devote to Karnataka as it is preoccupied with elections to the five state assemblies.

Congress high command likely to quiz CM over rows

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to come to Delhi by next week to meet Congress top brass amidst speculation from some quarters whether there could be a change of guard ahead of Assembly polls in Karnataka in 2018.

This is his first visit after he got embroiled with series of controversies including luxury watch, setting up Anti- Corruption Bureau and a private company Matrix, in which his son was a director, getting contract to run a laboratory in government hospital.

While the Congress high command is likely to confront him over repeated rows and the sources close to the chief minister told Deccan Herald that he was coming to explain the steps taken to address the prevailing drought situation in the state.

Senior Congress leaders from the state including state unit president G Parameshwara, former chief minister S M Krishna and Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently apparently to “update” the political developments in the state.

3 leaders eyeing CM's post

Though there is a speculation that all the three leaders who were eyeing the chief minister's post, were lobbying for removal of Siddaramaiah, the only clear indication was that the Congress high command is not happy with Siddaramaiah. However, it is not yet clear whether the party top brass will give a green signal for a change of leadership immediately.

Despite pressure on the party to make a dalit as Karnataka chief minister, no such plan is ready now, said a senior party leader.

One view in the Congress is that, having lost power in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the party should be very cautious on how to go about sorting out problems in Karnataka. Moreover, the party is also keenly watching the outcome of Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam.

The party high command, which is worrying over declining popularity of the chief minister, particularly after his series of controversies, is also planning new strategies for strengthening the organisation following the appointment of former chief minister Yeddyurappa as BJP state unit president.

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April 12,2024

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Udupi, Apr 12: A family’s visit to a resort to enjoy Eid-ul-Fitr holidays turned tragic as a 10-year-old boy drowned in the swimming pool at Hengavalli in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district on Thursday. 

The deceased has been identified as Mohammed Azeez, a Class 4 student at Darussalam English Medium School in Hoode.

Azeez was, who had gone to the resort along with his parents, was playing in the pool when he lost balance and drowned. Even though he was rescued, he was in a critical condition and later breathed his last. 

The family members have accused the negligence of the resort management as the reason for Azeez's death. They said that the incident occurred due to the absence of safety equipment like life jackets and the lack of lifeguards near the swimming pool.

A case has been registered at Shankaranarayana police station and investigations are underway. 

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April 11,2024

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Bengaluru, Apr 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party's unit in Karnataka have highlighted the statement of Class 12 Board exam topper from the state, Vedant Navi, and claimed that "it was a matter of pride as their schemes were bringing effective social and economic changes".

The Congress on Thursday launched a social media campaign by releasing posters and short videos.

Rahul Gandhi in his social media post said, “Such 'Success Stories' make me believe and ensure that our 'Mahalakshmi' guarantee of putting Rs 1 lac every year in women's accounts will prove to be a revolutionary step to shaping the country's fate.”

“Congress's Gruha Lakshmi scheme going on in Karnataka under which more than 1 crore women get Rs 2,000 every month, using the same money a mother taught her son Vedant and he got second rank in the whole state in PUC exam,” Rahul Gandhi stated.

“Vedant's story is a living example of Indian women's penance and willpower to strengthen the house with pai-pai. Imagine, when women of poor families across the country will get Rs 1 lakh every year through the 'Mahalakshmi Yojana', how many Vedantas will change the future of the family with their talent? This historic plan of Congress will give the dreams of poor families a flight into reality,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress in Karnataka said the schemes of the government were giving succour to the people. “It is a matter of pride that in a span of 10 months, our government’s schemes are bringing effective social and economic changes,” the party claimed.

“It is a testimony to the success of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme that the family of Vedant, who secured first rank in the Arts stream, was supported by the money provided by the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. Our schemes have brought changes in many people’s lives. The Congress party has built the lives of the people and thereby built the nation,” the Congress stated.

Vedant Navi had secured first rank in Arts Stream in Karnataka. He is the overall second-topper.

“My father is no more. My mother faced difficulties as the family was debt-ridden. In this crunch time, the money received through the Gruha Lakshmi scheme (Rs 2,000 every month given for women heads of family) helped my studies and hostel stay and other expenditures,” Vedant had stated.

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April 13,2024

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Mangaluru: After as the state health ministry issued guidelines to the public in view of a heatwave, the health department in Dakshina Kannada has advised people to be cautious about the impact of heatstroke, including heat rash, heat edema, heat cramps, heat tetany, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion.

Dakshina Kannada district nodal officer for climate change, Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, said that the impact of heat-related illness can also be found in the district, when there is a variation of about 4.5⁰C from the normal temperature.

Dr Kulal told media persons here on Friday, that the impact of heat-related illness is not confined to Raichur, Kalaburagi, and other North Karnataka districts.

“Those who reside inside tin sheet houses and closed environments are likely to suffer from heatstroke. People should hydrate themselves by drinking more water and avoid working under the direct Sun. Heat exhaust fans can be used. Though no heatstroke cases have been reported in the district, any negligence may cause heatstroke,” he said. 

DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that hotels and restaurants should supply boiled water, and they should clean the overhead tanks once every three months. The filter of drinking water units should be cleaned frequently, he said.

He also directed paying guest accommodations to supply fresh food to inmates.

“We have received complaints of many paying guest accommodations serving sambar cooked the previous day to inmates. Stale food should be avoided, as there are chances of food contamination. Plastics should be avoided while packing food in hotels. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, the use of plastic to pack hot food is restricted,” the DHO said.

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