Karnataka Assembly witnesses banter over DK Shivakumar's CM ambitions
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 12: The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday witnessed a light-hearted banter between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, with the latter playfully questioning Shivakumar when he planned to "snatch power" and become the CM of the state.
The exchange was triggered by Shivakumar’s anecdote about securing a ministerial berth in the S M Krishna-led cabinet in 1999, shared while paying tribute to the late former Chief Minister.
The story piqued interest among the MLAs, with some linking it to his current Chief Ministerial aspirations.
Recalling how the Congress came to power in the state in 1999, Shivakumar said, “It was me who drew up the list of ministers and their portfolios, which was sent to the high command. However, when the final list reached Raj Bhavan, my name and T B Jayachandra’s name were missing. Only nine names made it to the list. Media reported that I would become the CM’s political secretary.”
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The Deputy CM said he had then consulted his astrologer, who advised him to "snatch power" if he wanted it. Following this, Shivakumar, along with Jayachandra, had approached Krishna with a demand to be included in the cabinet.
“I told him there wouldn’t be a government without me, and he couldn’t be sworn in without me,” Shivakumar said, recounting how the swearing-in ceremony was delayed to include him in the cabinet list.
At this juncture, Ashoka interjected, asking, “Will you snatch power now to become the CM? When will that happen?”
Amid laughter in the House, the LoP claimed, “I know your astrologer has said you must become CM before January-end or it will be difficult. Your stars are aligned only until then. Don’t delay, or someone like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge might end up taking the post.”
Shivakumar, smiling, responded, “My astrologer predicted when I would become an MLA, a minister, and even when I wouldn’t get a ticket. If I reveal what he has told me now, 25-30 BJP MLAs and some JD(S) members might join Congress!”
The exchange, filled with humor, left the Assembly in splits.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was absent during this discussion.
Shivakumar has been vocal about his aspirations to become Chief Minister. Following the Congress victory in the May Assembly elections, there was intense competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the top post. Eventually, the party named Siddaramaiah as CM and Shivakumar as Deputy CM, reportedly under a "rotational chief minister" arrangement, though this has not been officially confirmed.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
