Senior Congress MLA says 'lucky' Siddaramaiah became CM twice, leaving behind old guard
Koppal/Bengaluru, Aug 3: Senior Congress MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy has remarked that luck or good fortune played a key role in shaping the political future of certain leaders, citing the example of Siddaramaiah who became Chief Minister after joining the party, "leaving behind the old guard".
Rayareddy also noted that people much junior to him have become ministers.
The comments have come amidst reports of brewing discontent within the ruling party, with as many as 30 legislators reportedly having written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies and functioning of certain ministers.
Rayareddy is also said to be one of the signatories of such a letter, according to party sources.
"L K Advani built the BJP, but Modi became the Prime Minister. Sometimes luck is in favour of certain people like this. Look at Siddaramaiah; after coming to Congress he twice became the Chief Minister. What should the old guard in Congress be thinking? It is all time of a particular individual," Rayareddy remarked.
Addressing a gathering in Koppal on Wednesday, he said, "People who used to walk behind me have become ministers. About 20 of them, I was an MLA with their fathers, but today they show arrogance in front of me. I was MLA and MP with Bommai's (Basavaraj Bommai) father (S R Bommai). I was minister in Deve Gowda's cabinet; Kumaraswamy was then scared of standing next to me. What to do? it was written in his fortune (to become CM)."
"So many people won't get an opportunity (to be part of govt) sometimes, but it doesn't mean they (those getting opportunity) are great and we are less. One should have the mentality to serve; power may come and go, but one has to serve," he added.
Siddaramaiah, who was earlier with Janata Dal and JD(S), joined the Congress in 2006.
Rayareddy, a former minister too was earlier with Janata Dal.
Clarifying that his statement was regarding being lucky in politics, Rayareddy today speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi said that eligibility and seniority is not a yardstick in politics.
"On the basis of social justice and regional factors ministers are made, it has become the tradition," he said. He said that in his opinion it is better if those who have experience in administration become ministers.
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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.
