CM Bommai removes R Ashoka as minister in-charge of Mandya
Bengaluru, Feb 10: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he is "freeing" state Revenue Minister R Ashoka as the Mandya district in-charge minister.
The announcement came barely a fortnight after he was made in-charge of Mandya district.
Bommai said the decision was taken on Ashoka's request as he had many other responsibilities to take care of.
"Ashoka had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility. Heeding to his request, I will issue an order freeing him from the responsibility of Mandya district in charge minister," the Chief Minister told reporters.
According to Bommai, the Revenue Minister himself volunteered to give up the additional responsibility. "There is one change in the district in-charge minister. Ashoka had written a letter to me," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister explained that Ashoka was instrumental behind issuing over 50,000 'Hakku Patra' (ownership deed) to those dwelling in Lamani Thandas. A similar drive will be carried out in Davangere Lamani Thanda.
Also, there will be Hakku Patra distribution to 10,000 people in and around Bengaluru, he added.
Ashoka will have to oversee the programme of deputy commissioners of the districts visiting villages. He also heads the Kempegowda and Basaveshwara statue committee, Bommai said.
"Since he has to give time and do justice to all the works he has taken up, he had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister had appointed Ashoka as the in-charge of Mandya district replacing Excise Minister K Gopalaiah.
A day later, many posters with messages 'Ashoka go back', and 'Boycott Ashoka' dotted prime locations of Mandya. Speculations are that leaders and workers of his own party in Mandya had opposed his appointment as the district in-charge minister and put out the posters.
The development came at a crucial juncture when the assembly elections are less than three months away and winning Mandya district, which is considered to be a Janata Dal (Secular) bastion, is important for the ruling BJP.
Neither Ashoka nor Gopalaiah were available for comments.
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Patna-bound IndiGo flight makes emergency landing at Lucknow due to bad weather
Lucknow (PTI): Adverse weather forced an IndiGo Kolkata-Patna flight to make an emergency landing at Lucknow airport on Friday, airport sources said.
According to airport officials, weather conditions in Patna deteriorated suddenly on Friday afternoon, affecting flight operations.
IndiGo flight 6E 6917 from Kolkata, which was scheduled to land in Patna at 3.50 pm, could not land due to bad weather and kept circling in the air after failing to get clearance from air traffic control, they said.
The flight was later diverted to Lucknow and landed safely at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at around 5.15 pm. There were 180 passengers and six crew members on board, officials said.
The aircraft was later allowed to depart for Patna after weather conditions improved.
