Krishna's move a big jolt to Cong as polls near; high command concerned

[email protected] (CD Network)
January 29, 2017

Bengaluru, Jan 29: With Assembly elections in Karnataka just a year away, former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna's decision to quit active politics has come as yet another jolt.krishna2

The decision of Mr Krishna, who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999-2004), Governor of Maharashtra (2004-08), and External Affairs Minister, to stay away from the activities of Congress has taken the party's image to a new low at a time when another senior leader, V. Srinivas Prasad, quit the Congress and joined the BJP recently.

Surprised by the 85-year-old leader's move, the Congress high command has swung into action and directed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka unit chief G Parameshwara to get in touch with him.

“I have asked the chief minister and the state Congress president to get in touch with Krishna,” Digvijaya Singh, Congress general secretary in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, said.

Singh said he had unsuccessfully tried to reach out to Krishna and maintained that he got the news through the media. In response to a query, however, he said he didn't know if Krishna had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently. Another Congress leader in Delhi said, “It's unfortunate. We are totally surprised by the announcement.”

Powerful leader

Though Krishna has maintained a distance from the functioning of the present government and has often expressed dissatisfaction over the “old guard” being sidelined, his image as a Congress Chief Minister, who nurtured Karnataka as anIT hub' and its capital asBrand Bengaluru' has not waned. He continues to wield considerable clout in the Old Mysore belt.

Mr. Krishna is learnt to have sent a letter detailing reasons for his “disillusionment” to All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Krishna, who belongs to the dominant Vokkaliga community, has been a vocal critic of the functioning of leaders who have come from the Janata Parivar, including Mr. Siddaramaiah. Mr. Krishna, who belongs to the “old school” of the Congress, was resentful of being “sidelined” by the party. The last time Mr. Siddarmaiah met Mr. Krishna was when the Supreme Court directed the State to release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu in September 2016.

Legislators, who were dropped from the State Cabinet, and other disgruntled senior leaders plan to rally behind Mr. Krishna. Several Congress leaders and Ministers have sought the blessings of the veteran leader and have urged him to give suggestions to the party, which faces a tough poll in 2018.

Comments

Think Tank
 - 
Sunday, 29 Jan 2017

Yavaglo hogbekithhu e nan maga....Brahminism yavaglu onde...adu conReSS irli athva Barathiya KJanwaru Party irli .....adu banna bidalla......

his EXIT willbe a Big gain to congress......will improve in Shaa Allah

A. Mangalore
 - 
Sunday, 29 Jan 2017

The person who's age is 85 years. He enjoyed from Chief Minister to the Central External Minister and then Governor and now in his totally retire age he should not quit that party that gave him all his power and respect throughout his life. This is the age to enjoy his remaining days with his family and friends and not to make any tamasha. This is really unfortunate.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 13: A college student was killed when a bullet tanker knocked his motorbike down near Nanthoor Circle in the city today. 

The deceased has been identified as Karthik Malya, a resident of Mannegudda. He was a final year degree student of Besant College in the city. 

The incident took place when Karthik was from Suratkal to Mangaluru. The bullet tanker reportedly hit the two-wheeler from behind and ran over him. He died on the spot.

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News Network
March 25,2020

Udupi, Mar 25: A 34-year-old man who returned from Dubai tested positive for novel coronavirus in Udupi district. This is the first case in the district. 

He returned from Dubai on March 18 and got admitted to a government hospital in Udupi on March 23 for fever. The swab samples were sent to Shivamogga laboratory for testing.

The report which arrived on Wednesday confirmed that he was positive for COVID-19, said DHO Dr Sudhir Chandra Sooda.

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News Network
June 26,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 26: All efforts would be made to control the spread of coronavirus in the city and there will be no fresh lockdown, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said, asserting that improving economic situation of the state is also equally important.

Though the state capital was considered a model for the entire country in COVID management and has seen a spike in cases during the last few days, the pandemic can be controlled if everyone cooperated, he said.

His remarks come a day after Revenue Minister R Ashoka said Bengaluru is still 'safe' compared to the COVID-19 situation in other cities and states and had ruled out a fresh lockdown for now, putting to rest speculations that it was planning such a move in view of spike in cases.

As of Thursday evening, a total of 1,791 COVID-19 cases, including 78 deaths and 505 discharges, had been reported in the city while the state's tally stood at 10,560 compared to just 3,408 cases as on June 1. The state capital has the highest number of cases among the districts.

"There is no question of imposing lockdown for any reason. In some areas (with high case load) we have already implemented lockdown, other than those places there is no question of it being implemented in other places," Yediyurappa told reporters here.

Improving the economic situation of the state was also equally important, he said ahead of his meeting with Ministers, MLAs and MPs of all parties from Bengaluru to discuss measures to control COVID-19.

"I will discuss with all MLAs including those from opposition and Ministers from Bengaluru and come to some decision. With their cooperation we will make all honest efforts to control the pandemic in Bengaluru," he added.

Earlier, there had been intense speculation after some ministers said the government may have to consider re-imposing the lockdown, eased in phases from the middle of last month, in view of continuing spike in new cases in the past several days. Bengaluru was a "model" to the entire country in COVID management, but in recent days cases have increased, Yediyurappa said, adding to control it cooperation from everyone was necessary.

"I have confidence that if everyone (MLAs) pays special attention in their respective assembly constituency, COVID can be controlled," he said. Meanwhile, official sources said the Chief Minister has given Revenue Minister Ashoka the charge of overseeing the COVID management in the city.

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