Burying hatchet with his mentor B. Janardhana Poojary, Minister B. Ramanath Rai on Wednesday visited the political stalwart at his residence in B.C. Road to seek blessings on the eve of filing nomination papers for the ensuing assembly elections.
Seen as a move to placate the strong Billava community in the region, Mr. Rai's gesture comes after All India Congress Committee President Rahul Gandhi visited Kudroli Gokarnatha Temple in the city, developed by Mr. Poojary.
Mr. Gandhi had reportedly asked party leaders in Dakshina Kannada to keep the octogenarian leader in the forefront while fighting the polls. Recalling his association with the Gandhi family right from days of late Indira Gandhi, Mr. Poojary had become emotional during Rahul Gandhi's visit and shed tears.
While Mr. Poojary is reportedly having age-related health issues, he warmly welcomed Mr. Rai at his residence on Wednesday and reportedly blessed the Minister.
The senior Congress leader also advised Mr. Rai to take all party workers and people together to ensure his victory even as he hoped that the party would be able to win all the eight assembly segments in the district. When the Minister was leaving, Mr. Poojary came out of the house to see him off.
Barred from party office
Mr. Poojary who was all praise for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the initial days of the Congress returning to power in the State, slowly began to express his displeasure over the mode of governance as well as party matters through press conferences.
His uncoated remarks on reported sidelining of 'original' Congressmen in governance, the Hublot watch issue, IAS officer D.K. Ravi's suicide, DySP Ganapathi's suicide and many more had invited the ire of the Chief Minister. Apparently, Mr. Poojary was reportedly upset with Mr. Siddaramaiah not heeding to his advices. As a cabinet colleague, Mr. Rai too was upset with the statements.
The issue reached the crescendo with Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao asking the stalwart not to use party office to hold press conferences to criticise the Congress government in July 2016. Thereafter Mr. Poojary held press conferences at the Mangaluru Press Club.
