In Shikaripura, discussions on Yeddyurappa's 'fading glory'

Agencies
May 1, 2018

Shivamogga, May 1: As the Karnataka poll battle hots up, people of the state are busy talking about their favourite party candidates even as many raised doubts over the apparent "sidelining" of BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa this election.

Standing in the sweltering summer heat, 45-year-old Shantappa is waiting for a bus to Shikaripura. The unrelenting weather, however, could not stop him from discussing the upcoming state assembly elections with fellow passengers.

Wiping sweat from his forehead, he says, "It looks like our leader (Yeddyurappa) has been sidelined. He is not in his original form in this elections...I have heard he is not sharing the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in most rallies".

Fellow passenger Rudrappa, a farmer, quips that the central BJP leaders are unable to connect with the public due to the language barrier.

"The other day, one of my relatives in northern Karnataka attended a rally, but came back disappointed as he could not understand the speech in Hindi," he says.

Another passenger Keshava, a BJP supporter, interjects and says the same goes with the Congress.

He argues that Kannadigas cannot connect with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and other party central leaders.

The bus driver, who do not wish to be identified, says political rallies are simply "political gimmicks".

"People are asked to shout slogans of 'Modi Modi' and 'Rahul Rahul'. These are political gimmicks," he says.

The driver was quick to add, "Yeddyurappa, a political heavyweight that he is, knows how to win elections if given full freedom.Yeddyurappa is a mass leader. BJP chief Amit Shah has said that the party is important and not the person. That does not work in Karnataka though".

A lawyer observes that the BJP's chief ministerial candidate was not giving any befitting reply to the ruling government's charges against him.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is repeating his speech at every place, mentioning about Yeddyurappa's jail stint and the Saubhagya welfare schemes, but the BJP's CM candidate is not giving a befitting reply to him, he says.

"Probably his health is not permitting him to campaign the way he used to do earlier. Otherwise, there is no reason for him to be silent," he adds.

When asked about the "fading glory" of 75-year-old Yeddyurappa, Gurumurthy, caretaker of Shikaripura constituency, says, "He has not been sidelined at all. These are fake reports. He is in his 'full form', else he would not have undertaken the padayatra for 85 days, covering all 224 constituencies just before the election campaign.

"We got 20 days to campaign after the filing of nominations. Since he is the state party president, he had to be a part of the candidate selection process. Therefore, he could not campaign during the first one week," Gurumurthy, who is also the district BJP general secretary, says.

"Now that the election campaign has started, Yeddyurappa is touring four constituencies on a daily basis," he says.

"Also, the central party chief has told mass leaders to campaign separately in the state as less time is left to cover the major constituencies," he says.

The BJP leader also addressed the reports of Yeddyurappa not sharing stage with the prime minister or party chief Amit Shah.

"Yeddyurappa sharing stage with PM or Amit Shah is not important, winning the election is important for us," Gurumurthy says.

Yeddyurappa has not visited his constituency in last five years, still, the party workers are working hard to ensure that the Lingayat leader wins with 50,000 votes margin in the upcoming state polls, he adds.

Gurumurthy, an RSS worker from Sagar taluk, has been working as coordinator in Shikaripura for last 35 years.

Karnataka will go to polls on May 12 to elect the 224- member assembly. The results for the same will be declared on May 15.

Comments

Angle of Life
 - 
Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Downfall of BJP is very near...if you make corruption for 100 year people may forgive you but if you make division in religion and divide the country people then they will never show any mercy on you..because TRUE INDIAN ARE LOVING PEOPLE THEY DONT SEE WHICH RELIGION YOU ARE. Do good to all community people autamatically all people will start loving you...so ask vote in the name of development, safety, employment, hearth care, futur...not in the name of god, hindutva, muslim, crist, cow, caste etc i want to see my india growing strong.. i dont want to put my head down becaus of greedy communual leader

Shahir
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Yeddy the, toothless (brainless also) Lion

Sandeep
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Whatever he was, his age and wrong decisions were the reason for the glory fade

Danish
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Yeddurappa = Jumla raja Jr.

Farooq
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

By stating they are for Hindus and protecting everything for Hinduism, they failed to meet their words in real. People started realising the bane of BJP rule.

Kumar
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

It's widely known truth, some BJP leaders have a prick of conscience.  They may support and justify BJP acts in public but in mind, they are not. Modi rule made Yeddy weaker

Divakar
 - 
Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Yeddy's strong era became past. He cant do much influence on Kannadigas. 

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 31,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 31: Muslims across coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada today observed Eid al Adha following the safety guidelines issued by the government amidst covid-19 pandemic. 

While coastal Karnataka is celebrating the festival of sacrifice today, it will be observed in other parts of Karnataka and country tomorrow. 

Congregational Eid prayers were held in many mosques while ensuring physical distancing norms. Only 50 devotees were allowed in mosques. Children below 10 years of age and elders above 60 years of age weren’t allowed. 

Eidgahs in the region wore a deserted look as the government has temporarily prohibited prayers in the open grounds. The Eidgah at Lighthouse Hill in Mangaluru, which usually witnessed huge crowd during Eid celebrations, was also closed this time. 

As expected, the celebration this time was a low key thanks to the restrictions placed in tune with the threat of coronavirus infection.

Prayers were held in Kudroli’s Nadupalli and Bundar’s Zeenat Bakhsh Central mosque. All those who entered mosque were wearing masks. 

In Udupi city, Eid prayers were held at Jamia Masjid and other mosques with limited number of devotees. In Bhatkal took some of the mosques hosted Eid prayers with all precautionary measures.

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 24,2020

Bantwal, Jul 24: Former Union Minister B Janardhan Poojary on Friday said that people need to shed all their misconception regarding COVID-19 and stop taking it so lightly as it is not just any normal disease.

The 83-year-old politician who was tested positive for covid-19, was recently discharged from hospital after recovering completely.

Giving a word of caution, he said, “Earlier also there have been several diseases like Covid-19 and it has been eradicated. Even covid-19 will be eradicated. So, people should not get scared of the disease instead must fight with it”

“Also, covid-19 patients must not be treated like untouchables as those with symptoms may also not mention it due to the fear of being treated badly,” he added.

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News Network
May 14,2020

Bengaluru, May 14: Three youths died of "asphyxiation" when they fell into a pit in the abandoned Kolar gold field mines, where they had gone to allegedly steal iron material early on Thursday, police said.

On Wednesday night, the trio had entered the gold mine in Kolar district, about 100 km from Bengaluru, and fell in the pit after losing balance.

After inhaling the poisonous gas in the pit, they were asphyxiated to death, they said.

"It was a seven hour exercise after which we could bring out two bodies. Work is on to retrieve the third," a police officer told .

Police reached the spot after they were alerted by the accomplices of the deceased.

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