Wish to become CM if luck is on my side: Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru, Nov 3: A day after Siddaramaiah asserted that he would continue as Karnataka Chief Minister for a full five-year term, rubbishing talks of a midterm change in leadership, Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday made no secret of his desire to occupy the top post if luck is on his side.
Parameshwara was reacting to Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna's wish to see him as chief minister some day.
During an event in the district headquarters town of Tumakuru, Rajanna said, "Parameshwara is the home minister today. Anything can happen in future. He has the good fortune. I believe that he has the luck (of becoming chief minister) in the coming days. We will work to 'supplement' the luck. There is no doubt about it."
Stating that having a chief minister from the district would make the people there happy, Rajanna said, "If he (Parameshwara) becomes one then we all get the feeling of becoming Chief Minister," he added.
The 72-year-old Parameshwara, the former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, said, "I am grateful to Rajanna. I too desire for that luck to happen."
He, however, said he does not know when he could be elevated.
"There are many eligible candidates (who can become CM). Let everyone get a chance," he said.
He denied that there were any discussions on this issue when Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited his house in Tumakuru.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said the issue of change of guard is decided by "four people in Delhi".
"As I have said four people sit together in Delhi (and decide). Barring those four people whoever talks has no value. And the high command should say If the high command says that I am the chief minister, then I will say Yes' to it," Kharge said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother and Lok Sabha member D K Suresh said there is no meaning in discussing speculative questions when the chief minister's post is not vacant.
"Siddaramaiah is the chief minister. The CM post is not vacant. This matter should be discussed when the post is lying vacant. What is the use of such talks (now)?" Suresh said.
He added that the people of Karnataka have given five years to Congress to rule the state. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar have the target of ensuring the smooth functioning of government.
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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.
