Discontent over cabinet rejig intensifies; Jaffer Sharief backs disgruntled group

June 23, 2016

Bengaluru, June 23: Discontent today snowballed in the ruling Congress over Karnataka's major ministry revamp as disgruntled party legislators decided to meet shortly to plan their next course of action, keeping the option open of pressing for leadership change.

congA series of meetings were being held for the past two days by several dropped ministers and ministerial berth aspirants after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah carried out a major rejig on Sunday, sacking 14 ministers and inducting 13 others to burnish the party's image with two years left for Assembly polls.

"...we will meet on Sunday or Monday. We will all sit together, whatever decision is taken there, is final. Now we have gone one step ahead. To save the party, if leadership change is needed, we are ready for it," senior Congress MLA from Yadagiri Malka Reddy told reporters after a meeting.

"We will fight being within the party. First option is to see if there is any chance to strengthening the party without leadership change. First, we will give medicine, if things are not solved, we will be open for surgery," he added.

Another MLA from Afzalpur Mallikayya Guttedar, sulking over not being given a ministerial berth, said "we will decide whether leadership change is needed."

The state Congress leadership continued its efforts to douse dissidence, with newly-appointed Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao seeking to pacify key sacked ministers like Ambareesh and Srinivasa Prasad, who have openly questioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's action of dropping them.

After meeting Ambareesh and Prasad, Rao said, "...he (Ambareesh) has no resentment against the party. I feel he will come out of these things soon, his support is needed for the party."

Senior leaders like Prasad, Qamarul Islam, Ambareesh, Baburao Chinchansoor who were dropped from the Ministry have openly criticised Siddaramaiah.

Ambareesh has even resigned as MLA, which has not been accepted.

Ministerial aspirants like Guttedar, Malka Reddy, S T Somashekar and Rajshekar Patil among others have made open remarks against Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjuna Kharge (Congress Leader in Lok Sabha), whose son Priyank Kharge has managed to find a ministerial slot.

Somashekar has claimed that eight legislators were contemplating resigning their Assembly membership in protest.

Sources said party's state in-charge Digvijay Singh is expected to visit here soon in order to control the growing resentment within the party.

Siddaramaiah had carried out the reshuffle after the Congress High Command gave its clearance for the major rejig, seen as an attempt to improve the party's image to retain power in the next polls in the only major bastion under its control after losing power in several states, most recently in Assam.

Meanwhile, former union minister C K Jaffer Sharief, who met Ambareesh, extended his support to the disgruntled group. He told reporters that Siddaramaiah was responsible for the crisis the party is witnessing.

Comments

SK
 - 
Thursday, 23 Jun 2016

As Ambarish said he is not a foot wear..... But ALL the politicians are worse than that.... The ministers should be rotated for every 2.5 years, so that others will get an opportunity to show their TALENT.... Cabinet is not their Father's property....Even Siddu has done BLUNDER by retaining other ministers like RAI..... these foot wears should be kicked out....like he changed his` car......

Abdullah
 - 
Thursday, 23 Jun 2016

This old buffalos should take rest and enjoy the rest of their life with family. How much money they want to earn???
And also they should give chance to youngsters.

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News Network
February 19,2020

Chikkamagaluru, Feb 19: A 31-year-old homemaker was murdered and valuables, including 100gm of gold and 2kg of silver, were reported missing from her house in Kadur town of Chikkamagaluru district late Monday evening. Her 11-month-old son, who was with her at the time of the attack, had a miraculous escape.

Police said Kavita's husband Dr Revath was away in his clinic in the town's Kadur-Birur road along with their first son, 5. Kavita, who has done MA and from Udupi, and the dentist married seven years ago.

District superintendent of police Harish Pandey has formed a special team to probe the incident that took place in Lakshmish Nagar in the town.

According to police, Kavita spoke to her husband around 6.45pm on Monday and didn't answer his subsequent calls, triggering a strong suspicion in him that something was amiss. He called his relatives living nearby to check on his wife. The relatives rushed to the house only to find the main door locked.

Since Kavita didn't answer the doorbell, they force-entered the house from the rear door and found her in a pool of blood. She was taken to a private clinic where doctors declared her brought dead.

Police said the woman was killed by a sharp weapon by slitting her throat between 6.45pm and 8.15pm. The rooms and almirahs had been found ransacked. At least 100gm gold ornaments, 2kg of silver and cash were missing from the house.

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March 24,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 24: A Covid-19 patient from Kasaragod, who recently came from abroad travelled to Mangaluru twice, revealed Karnataka department of health and family welfare.

The 54-year-old person is confirmed as Covid-19 positive case yesterday.

He landed at Mangalore International Airport on March 10 at 5.30pm by Air India Express flight.

From there, he had travelled in his own vehicle to Kasaragod. He had coffee near Kasaragod and reached home at 7.30pm.

On March 11, he had visited local fish market and returned home at 10pm.

He had consulted a local doctor at Kasaragod on March 18 and later visited to Kasturba Medical College, Attavar at 3pm, visited reception and consulted a doctor.

He had tea at KMC canteen and travelled in an auto to Medicity and brought medicines and returned to Kasaragod by KSRTC bus.

Again he travelled to Mangaluru on March 20 in a private vehicle and visited a doctor and returned back to Kasargod in a private vehicle.

The health department has requested all passengers who travelled in the above said flight/aircraft, and KSRTC bus can self-report by dialing 104 or other helpline numbers.

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May 3,2020

Bengaluru, May 3: Erection of barricades and drawing up of boxes or circles aimed at maintaining social distancing were seen in front of liquor shops in different parts of Karnataka on Sunday, a day ahead of their reopening after a gap of over 40-days, due to the lockdown.

Karnataka Excise Commissioner on Saturday had ordered that only CL-2 (retail shops) and CL-11C (state-run retail shops like Mysore Sales International Limited) would open from May 4.

It had permitted liquor sale liquor between 9 am and 7 pm only in areas that are outside COVID-19 containment zones.

Reports of barricades being erected to ensure that people stand in line and drawing of boxes or circles in front of shops to maintain social distancing in front of retail and MSIL shops have emerged from across the state, including the state capital.

Also reports about shop keepers doing special poojas outside liquor shops in Kolar and some even illuminating their outlets with lights from outside have surfaced from other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, officials were engaged in checking stocks ahead of the shops opening on Monday morning.

"We are making all preparations to ensure that government rules are followed. We also seek the cooperation of the people and police," the manager of a shop said.

Another said there may be a rush initially, after which things may get back to normal.

"We expect things to go on smoothly," he added.

Calling for number of customers to be limited to five at a time while ensuring that they maintain social distancing of not less than six feet distance, the order states that customers and the staff will have to wear masks and sanitizers should be used at the shops.

Only stand alone CL-2 and CL-11C shops are allowed to commence liquor sale and not those at malls and super markets, it said.

Officials in Bengaluru said liquor sale is prohibited in 26 containment zones in the city, while in other places rules that have been prescribed need to be followed.

In case of any violation, strict action would be taken, including imposing of penalty, they said.

There was pressure on the government to kick start economic activities, including allowing sale of liquor, to boost the state's finances as excise is the key area which generates revenue.

State Excise Minister H Nagesh had recently pegged the losses at Rs 60 crore per day because of closure of liquor shops, due to the lockdown.

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