Minister of State for Tourism and Information Technology and Bio-technology Priyank Kharge and Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil were given a rousing reception on Friday on their maiden visit to Kalaburagi after the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
More than 500 two-wheelers, around 100 four-wheelers, and thousands of workers welcomed the Ministers when they entered the city near ESIC Hospital on the Kalaburagi-Sedam Road.
Later, they were formally received by Umesh Jadav, Chincholi MLA and parliamentary secretary to the Chief Minister; Bhagangowda Patil Sunkanur, district Congress committee president; and Allamprabhu Patil, former MLC. Qamarul Islam and Baburao Chinchansur, who were dropped from the Cabinet, and their supporters were conspicuous by their absence.
While Mr. Kharge was accorded a spirited welcome at his home constituency Chittapur and at all the villages on the way to Kalaburagi, Dr. Patil was felicitated in his home constituency Sedam and at Malkhed. At Dandoti village, both Mr. Kharge and Dr. Patil joined together and proceeded to Kalaburagi.
The supporters of Mr. Kharge and Dr. Patil had put up festoons and banners throughout the city. The traditional band and ‘dollu kunitha’ along with around 10 horses formed part of a procession from Nagreshwar School in Nehru Gunj locality. On the way, the leaders were felicitated by traders at the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee yard and the Kirana Bazaar and they were taken to the ranga mandir where a felicitation function was organised.