Will Karnataka have a Dalit Chief Minister? If so, when? Political circles were consumed by these questions for a few days, with almost every Congress leader having an opinion to offer. A few religious heads also added their mite to the ‘debate’. Curiously, the question began to circulate completely out of the blue. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief G. Parameshwara (a Dalit), who had earlier raised the question of representation and sought a berth in the cabinet, has been lying low for some time. There is neither a hint of the all-deciding high command sending out signals of the incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s position being shaky, nor has there been so much as a hint of an election on the horizon. Was it then a sudden awakening on the question of caste representation in politics, considering Karnataka has never had a Dalit Chief Minister? Hard to believe, considering the numbers game that politics is. Mr. Siddaramaiah overshadowed every other Chief Ministerial candidate before the polls, not because of his caste, but because of his charisma and promise of good work. But opinion is divided, even within his Cabinet, on how he has emerged since. Interestingly, this storm in a teacup died down as mysteriously as it began, with the Arkavathi imbroglio turning up the heat on Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Against relocation
True to his ‘Rebel star’ style, Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh, an avid racer and active member of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), opposed his government’s move to relocate the BTC saying racing is not gambling, and hundreds of families will lose their livelihood if it is moved out of the city. Mr. Ambareesh questioned the motive behind the move to relocate the club. “The BTC is in the heart of the city, making it convenient for everybody. Logistically this is the best place to be,” he said. Even in New Delhi, the Prime Minister’s official residence (7 Race Course Road) is very close to the Delhi Race Course, he argued. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had made an attempt to relocate the BTC to the outskirts of the city. It is a superstitious belief that all Chief Ministers, who have attempted to relocate the BTC, had lost their posts. After giving an ultimatum to relocate the club, apparently, Mr. Yeddyurappa made ‘amends’ by offering prayers at the temple inside the club. The BTC lost its appeal in the Karnataka High Court, which upheld the government’s decision to relocate the club. It has now challenged the judgment in the Supreme Court. Defending the government’s move, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said: “We have decided to stand firm on relocating the turf club. It should be moved out of the city.”
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Being a Cabinet Minister in the State government, Satish Jarkiholi is caught between the sugar industry and sugarcane growers. Questions are being raised whether he is safeguarding the interests of growers or the sugar industry. A few months ago, when growers sought a high price for their produce from factories, Mr. Jarkiholi blasted the factory owners saying that “they [factories] cheat growers while weighing the cane”. In a pamphlet released to the press, he castigated factory owners for cheating the growers. However, on January 4, he changed his stand and said: “The sugar industry is not a charitable institution.” Interacting with the media, the Minister said farmers should receive fair remuneration for their produce. But, can you treat sugar factories as charitable trusts? The Minister, whose family owns sugar factories, argues that the remuneration for cane should be fixed based on the prevailing price of sugar in the market. Just because the farmers must receive Rs. 2,500 per tonne of sugarcane, should all sugar factories owned by politicians suffer losses? The Minister, who hails from the sugar belt, has suggested that growers cultivate alternative crops to come out of the debt cycle. Will sugar turn bitter for growers as well as factories?
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A four-day 5th edition of the International Kite Festival, organised by Abhay Patil — former MLA and BJP’s firebrand leader, and president of Parivartan Pariwar, in Belagavi — from January 17, clearly smacked of political motive and self-promotion. Thousands who made a beeline for the venue were taken by surprise when they came across the party’s stall at the entrance. Workers were seen distributing membership forms and motivating visitors to join the party. The target of one-crore membership set for Karnataka has apparently put party leaders under pressure and they are tapping every available opportunity to accomplish the goal. At the kite festival, the BJP was able to register 5,500 new members, even as over a lakh visited the venue in the four days. But, many did not like the organiser using the sports event for political purpose. The announcers kept chanting Patil’s name and listed out his achievements during stint as a two-time MLA throughout the event. Many wondered whether they were attending an election meeting after all.