Karnataka: in fresh problem for Congress, loyalists demand cabinet berths

TNN

May 29, 2019

Bengaluru, May 29: Efforts by Congress leaders to mollify rebels with the offer of cabinet berths has created a new problem for the party, with some party loyalists questioning the decision which they say is “unfair and unjust”. Some loyalists even threw their hats in the ring for ministerial berths on Tuesday, questioning why they shouldn’t be made ministers if rebels were being rewarded.

MLAs Ajay Singh, V Muniyappa and even H Nagesh, the independent MLA from Mulbagal, made no bones about their desire to become ministers. Singh even questioned the decision of party bosses to reward rebels with cabinet berths.

“The party should consider rewarding loyal MLAs. But unfortunately rebels are being rewarded,” he said while speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi. He also claimed that he was contacted by BJP leaders to switch sides, but being a loyal Congressman he will not leave the party.

Muniyappa and Nagesh met chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru with a request to make them ministers. Nagesh was accompanied by water resources minister DK Shivakumar, who returned from his Australia tour late on Monday night.

“As Gandhi said not to speak, listen and hear bad things, I have decided not to speak anything on the ongoing political developments,” Shivakumar told reporters when asked about dissidence within the party. Incidentally, Shivakumar had triggered some of the problems for the coalition government by interfering in Belagavi district politics. This had caused Ramesh Jarkiholi to rebel.

Besides Ajay, Muniyappa and Nagesh, Jarkiholi, BC Patil, B Nagendra and Bheema Naik are also in the race to become ministers.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy reached out to two Congress MLAs from Bengaluru, ST Somashekhar and Byrathi Basavaraj, assuring them that he would fulfil their demands. The CM is said to have agreed to the demand of Somashekhar, who is chairman of the Bengaluru Development Authority, to replace the commissioner Rakesh Singh at the development authority. Somashekhar, the Yeshwantpur MLA, is involved in a running feud with the commissioner. The CM also reportedly sanctioned Rs 10 crore to KR Puram, Byrathi Basavaraj’s constituency.

The CM’s gesture comes in the wake of complaints by many Congress legislators that Kumaraswamy is inaccessible to them.

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Mangaluru trip turns tragic: 3 engineering college students drown in beach

News Network

January 8,2025

Mangaluru, Jan 8: The serene beaches near Kulai Jetty under the limits of Surathkal police station turned into a scene of tragedy on Wednesday, January 8, as a group of four close friends saw their day of joy morph into heartbreak.

Three young men lost their lives in the unforgiving waves, while one narrowly escaped death, saved by the heroic efforts of local fishermen.

The victims have been identified as:

M. S. Manjunath (31), son of Shivlingappa, hailing from Upparigenahalli, Chitradurga district.

Shivakumar (30) from Shivamogga district.

Satyavelu (30) from JP Nagar, Bengaluru.

The sole survivor, Parameshwara (30), from Hangarga, Bidar district, now carries the weight of a harrowing ordeal and the devastating loss of his three closest friends.

These young men, all students of AMC Engineering College in Bengaluru, had embarked on a trip meant to create memories of joy and camaraderie. Driving overnight from Bengaluru, they reached Mangaluru on Wednesday morning. After breakfast at a local eatery, the group decided to visit the picturesque Kulai Jetty, seeking solace and adventure in the sea.

But their joyful outing took a tragic turn. While playing in the water, the four were caught in strong currents. Despite the swift intervention of local fishermen, only Parameshwara could be rescued in time. The lifeless bodies of Manjunath, Shivakumar, and Satyavelu were later found on the right side of the jetty, their dreams and futures cruelly cut short.

The Surathkal police, alerted to the incident, promptly arrived at the scene and began their investigation. The bodies were transported to AJ Hospital for post-mortem examinations, leaving their families and friends to grapple with the enormity of their loss.

A case has been registered at Surathkal Police Station. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of the sea, urging visitors to prioritize safety above all else.

What was meant to be a day of joy has left a void that can never be filled, as three grieving families now face the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones.

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