Veteran Cong leader Kagodu Thimmappa declares political retirement
Bengaluru, July 31: Veteran Congress leader, political stalwart, front leader of Socialist Movement in the state and former minister Kagodu Thimmappa, on Tuesday, declared retirement from the active politics.
Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha here, the socialist leader said that “I am aged. I have completed the works I had to do. I have contentment about my works. It’s enough. I have decided to keep myself away from electoral politics. I’ll not contest in any election. But I’ll involve myself in social works”, said Kagodu is retiring from his 55 years political career.
After his B Com and BL graduation, Kagodu had started his practice in Sagar as an advocate. Later, he had plunged into politics from Socialist Party. He had contested from Sagar Assembly constituency on Socialist Party ticket two times, but was defeated. Third time, he had entered the Vidhana Soudha in 1972. As he had participated in Sandur Bhoo Vimochana Satyagrah in 1973, he was arrested. Later, he was elected as the MLA and MLC and served the state.
As minister, he had managed various portfolios efficiently. In 1980, he had joined Congress (I) party. He was elected as the MLC from the Assembly constituency on May 5, 1980 with the help of then chief minister Gundu Rao and became the chairman of the Backward Classes Committee. Later, Gundu Rao had made him as the forest minister on October 3, 1980 and made him Leader of the Legislative Council. Later, he was appointed as the PWD Minister. In 1989, he was elected to Legislative Council from Congress and then chief minister Veerendra Patil appointed him as state Housing Board chairman.
He was again elected to Assembly in 1994 and 1999 elections from the Congress. He had served as the Social Welfare Minister in SM Krishna government. In the Siddaramaiah government, he had served as the Speaker and Revenue Minister. But he lost in the 2018 Assembly election from Sagar constituency against BJP candidate Hartal Halappa. Now, he has decided to retire from the active politics.
Foolish act: Kagodu
Responding to separate North Karnataka state movement, Kagodu said that the united Karnataka came into existence because of the efforts of many years. It was the height of the foolishness to demand for two states. No one should support the fight aimed at dividing the state, he said.
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Death toll from Israeli strikes in northeast Lebanon rises from 8 to 24, Lebanese news agency says
Deir al-Balah, Nov 1: Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed at least 24 people in northeastern Lebanon, the country's news agency said, raising the death toll from eight there.
It was the latest deadly toll in the area since the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah escalated last month.
Israel's military has said that its operation in Lebanon is targeting Hezbollah's military infrastructure.
Lebanon's state National news Agency reported four airstrikes in different villages across country's northeast, saying rescuers were still searching for survivors in Younine, a town in the Bekaa Valley, from the rubble of a targeted house.
Hussein Haj Hassan, a Lebanese lawmaker representing the region in Baalbek-Hermel region, said that 60,000 people have already fled their homes in the area due to Israeli bombardment.
