Corridors of power

CM for 30 minutes, anyone?

There seems to be intense competition among MLAs in Karnataka to assume office as the Chief Minister for at least a few hours. No, we are not talking about a political satire, but the drift of the debate on crop loan waiver. In reaction to JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s (in picture) statement in the Legislative Assembly that he would waive crop loans within 24 hours if he becomes the Chief Minister, Congress member Shadakshari announced that he would do so within just 12 hours. Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil ridiculed this saying the number of “12 hours/24 hours CMs” has been on the rise. Taking potshots at Mr. Kumaraswamy, another Congress member D.G. Shantanagouda said he would issue an order on loan waiver if he is made CM for just 30 minutes. Mr. Kumaraswamy then turned all serious and warned Congress members not to play “silly politics” with farmers’ livelihoods.

Subscription drive

Besides retaining power in the next Legislative Assembly elections, the Congress high command has assigned another major task to the State unit — getting subscriptions for the National Herald newspaper, which will be relaunched soon. With elections due in the next 10 months, the rank and file of the party is not pleased by the party’s diktat which they consider a burden on the KPCC. Sources said that Ministers, legislators, members of various urban and rural local bodies, and party workers have been asked to subscribe to at least 1,000 copies of the National Herald. Besides, every Minister has been asked to donate considerably to the paper, it is learnt.

The final say

When elected representatives fail to understand the significance of the council they represent and are ignorant of the rules and regulations, they put themselves in an embarrassing situation. Recently, the Mayor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation D.K. Chavan found himself in one such situation. Right from day one, Mr. Chavan has been in the news for his rather naïve way of holding the proceedings of the municipal council. Last week after deliberation, he announced that parking fee imposition in Dajibanpet, which he represented, should be cancelled as the residents were against it. Senior councillor and former Mayor Pandurang Patil cut him short and told him that since the council had already approved the parking zones, the Mayor could not reverse it now. The council fell silent as Dr. Patil held forth in his authoritative voice on the procedure to be followed. A subdued Mayor finally announced: “We will do as the doctor (Dr. Patil) says”.

Inspired by Yogi

Yogi Adityanath

(in picture) becoming Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has apparently inspired some saffron-clad seers to join politics. Ramaruda Swamy, a seer from Bagalkot, has not only expressed his desire to join politics, but has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a ticket to contest from Bilagi. He said that though he was doing social work as a seer, only political power can help him do more good work for society. “I will first seek ticket from the BJP, but in case the party rejects my request, then I will not hesitate to contest as Independent,” the seer said.

Nagesh Prabhu

Girish Pattanashetti

Firoz Rozindar