Dk Shivakumar backing Kharge for CM post sparks debate over Dalit at helm
Bengaluru/Chikkamagaluru (PTI): Amid stiff competition between him and senior leader Siddaramiah for the chief ministerial post in the event of Congress winning the Assembly polls, Karnataka Congress unit president D K Shivakumar's attempts to bring AICC chief M Mallikarjun Kharge's name into the race, has raised eyebrows within party circles.
The KPCC chief's move to endorse Kharge, is being seen by some as an attempt by him to checkmate Siddaramaiah's prospects, by reigniting the debate on 'Dalit CM' and 'native versus migrant' within the party.
Shivakumar's statements that he would "love" to work under Kharge if he becomes the Chief Minister and that there are voices within the party that "injustice" has happened to the veteran leader in the past, has got tongues wagging among many in the state Congress. However, he has maintained that the party's decision is final.
"He (Kharge) is our senior leader and AICC President. He has not asked for it (CM post), Congress should come to power is his only desire. He is a senior leader and there are some voices that say that injustice has happened to him in the past," Shivakumar said in response to a question regarding bringing Kharge's name to the fore.
Speaking to reporters in Sringeri on Monday, he said, "we should abide by what the party says. Kharge is at the helm of the party. I will leave it to the party, Siddaramaiah and others too will abide by the party. The party is important."
Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the Congress coming to power and have often indulged in a game of political one upmanship.
It all began with Shivakumar's reply to a question about him backing off from the race if Kharge wants to become the CM, saying that, "He (Kharge) is my leader, he is my AICC president, I would love to work under him. He is an asset to the state and the country...I will abide by the party's decision, he is 20 years senior to me.....I'm committed to his wish."
Later, while defending his statement, he said, "He (Kharge) is a senior, he is our AICC president, if we don't support him and his leadership, are we human? Party coming to power is important, not us."
When questioned on Shivakumar's statements, Siddaramaiah on Sunday maintained, everyone will abide by the decision of the high command.
According to party sources, Kharge lost out in the race to become Chief Ministers thrice -- in 1999 to S M Krishna, 2004 to N Dharam Singh and in 2013 to Siddaramaiah.
Some party functionaries believe the possibilities of Kharge returning to state politics are very limited, given the positions and responsibilities he holds.
"He as AICC President has a bigger role to play in and ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, like leading the party and preparing it for elections and forging opposition unity, among others," a party functionary said.
However, Shivakumar's statements regarding Kharge, a 80-year old leader from Dalit community, has once again triggered a debate in the Congress over "Dalit CM", with other senior leaders from the community like G Parameshwara and K H Muniyappa in the poll fray.
Karnataka has never had a Dalit CM, and there has been pressure from a section within the Congress to consider this, as there are several capable leaders in the party from the community.
Throwing his hat into the ring, Parameshwara had recently said he is among the chief ministerial aspirants in the event of the party coming to power.
Parameshwara was Deputy Chief Minister during Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy, and was the longest-serving KPCC chief (eight years); while Muniyappa is veteran party leader and seven-time MP from Kolar.
Also, with Siddaramaiah having already been in the CM post once between 2013-18, there are voices within the Congress that someone "native" or "original" Congressman should be made the chief minister this time. Siddaramaiah had joined Congress in 2006 after being expelled from JD(S).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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
===================
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.
