MP wants a say in choice of Mayoral candidate
Even as several Congress councillors are in the race to be Bengaluru’s next Mayor, Congress MP for Bengaluru Rural D.K. Suresh ( in picture ) has given a new twist to the contest. He has told the party’s top leaders that the Mayor’s post should be given to a councillor of his choice.
Mr. Suresh has made no bones about his unhappiness over “being ignored” within the party while picking the Mayoral candidate.
Recently, he was not invited to a selection meeting held at the Congress office.
“They have forgotten me. Many wards in the city fall in my Lok Sabha constituency. I should have a say in the selection process,” he said.
The party has decided to have a Scheduled Caste candidate this time. Mr. Suresh wants the post to be given to M. Velu Nayakar, councillor for Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly segment, or Belur councillor Anjanappa.
Observers in the party indicate that the MP’s demand comes in the wake of a simmering feud between Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mr. Suresh’s elder brother, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, particularly after the income tax raids on the brothers. It is said that the Chief Minister had a major role in foiling Mr. Shivakumar’s bid to become KPCC president. When the searches were on, Mr. Shivakumar’s mother Gowramma had openly blamed Mr. Siddaramaiah on a television channel for the raids, and this had severely embarrassed the Chief Minister. It is another matter that the brothers had played down the episode later.
Rahul’s U.S. speeches
It’s not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prerogative to visit the U.S. and deliver talks. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi ( in picture ) also delivered speeches in the U.S. universities during his sojourn as part of his party’s outreach initiative.
Congress leaders find it perfectly normal. What is wrong with it, asks Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara.
Mr. Gandhi’s U.S. trip was about winning friends and influencing people — and not just among the Indian diaspora. Unlike Mr. Modi, the Congress leader spoke about India’s achievements during the Congress rule.
While Mr. Modi criticised the Congress at his Madison Square Garden speech, the KPCC chief pointed out that Mr. Gandhi lauded the contributions of non-resident Indians to their home country and the Congress party. Also figuring in the speeches were dozens of failures of the Modi government, including demonetisation and fuel price rise during the last three years.
No special chair for CM
Last week, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ( in picture ) declined a special treatment that the organisers wanted to give him at the inauguration of the new building of the Kolar Deputy Commissioner’s office.
In the seating arrangements made on the dais for the dignitaries, one chair in the centre stood out with its large size and colour.
It was obviously meant for the Chief Minister.
As he stepped on to the dais, Mr. Siddaramaiah quickly noticed it and showed his annoyance at the special chair.
He requested the organisers to give him the same chair as the other guests.
The big red chair was immediately replaced.
He made no mention of it in his speech but there were many appreciative murmurs in the audience.
Nagesh Prabhu
Vishwa Kundapura
