With Paralympics silver, Suhas Yathiraj smashes his way to IAS archives
Noida, (PTI): Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) District Magistrate and shuttler Suhas Yathiraj's Paralympics run culminated with a silver medal for India on Sunday, with the journey also earning him a place in the annals of Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The 38-year-old Suhas, who was outdone by his 23-year-old top seed French rival Lucas Mazur in a thriller of a final, became the only IAS officer to have not only participated but also won a medal in the Paralympics.
Congratulations Suhas L Y, IAS, DM G B Nagar (Noida) for winning the silver medal in men's singles SL4 para-badminton at Tokyo Paralympics. We and the entire nation are proud of you, the IAS Association, a group of serving and retired central administrative officers, tweeted.
The IAS Association's tweet also carried the hashtag #Cheer4Suhas, a trending buzzword on social media to rally support for Yathiraj during the showpiece event, along with #Cheer4India.
The Indian Police Service (IPS) Association, too, chipped in with a congratulatory message for the Karnataka-born UP cadre IAS officer, who has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic management in Gautam Buddh Nagar since end of March 2020.
Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat of Union Home Ministry, Sanjay Gupta also heaped praise on the 2007-batch IAS officer for his achievement.
Suhas wins hearts. India lose another 63 min cliffhanger. He led in decider too but change of court at 11-10 turned the tables. Stupendous achievement for which nation is proud. Sadly, 2nd seed Tarun too loses Bronze play off. Avani Lekhara couldn't make to the finals in the mixed event, the senior IAS officer tweeted.
Suhas' IAS and IPS colleagues in Gautam Buddh Nagar too showered praise on his historic performance.
Greater Noida Authority CEO Narendra Bhooshan said Suhas has done the fraternity proud, describing him as an unprecedented combination of service with sports.
Every IAS officer tries to excel in public service but Suhas has broken the barrier and excelled in sports also, that too in paralympics. He has proved that mental toughness helps break all barriers and you can reach the top, the senior IAS officer told PTI.
Suhas has been the role model for lakhs of Indians, sports persons and more importantly specially-abled people, Bhooshan said.
Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh tweeted, Well done Suhas L Y, you fought like a champion, made us all proud of your mettle.
IAS officer and former Gautam Buddh Nagar DM Brajesh Narain Singh in his congratulatory note for Suhas on Twitter said, A great feat for the country, the state, the services and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
The unseeded Suhas ended his campaign with a historic silver after going down fighting against top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the men's singles SL4 class final at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday.
The IAS officer, who has an impairment in one of his ankles, produced an entertaining performance before narrowly going down 21-15 17-21 15-21 to two-time world champion Mazur in a 62-minute summit clash.
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Power tussle: Shivakumar loyalists make fresh pitch for leadership change
Bengaluru (PTI): The ongoing power tussle in the ruling Congress in Karnataka intensified with supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar gathering at a hotel to discuss strategies to see their leader's elevation to the top post in the state.
Magadi MLA H C Balakrishna organised the gathering where discussions were held "to end the confusion regarding power sharing".
"Nearly 40 like-minded MLAs" gathered in the private hotel on Thursday night where it was decided to lobby for Shivakumar's elevation as the Chief Minister, Congress sources said.
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Speaking to reporters, Balakrishna, a Shivakumar loyalist, said his birthday falls on Saturday. "Since I will not be here (Bengaluru) from Friday morning as I am going out, I asked all like-minded people to have a get-together on Thursday. We invited everyone and organised this gathering."
When asked about what they discussed, the Magadi MLA said, "The discussion here was that in the present situation, if our party continues like this, it will be difficult for us in the future. The high command must give a final shape to this issue (leadership row). We have decided that we should urge them (high command) to do so."
To the question whether they would visit Delhi, Balakrishna said the matter is not about going to the national capital.
The high command is not "sleeping there in Delhi". It knows what is happening in Karnataka, he added.
According to him, when the Congress MLAs go to their constituencies, they often face questions and discussions on leadership change.
"In our constituencies, this is the only discussion and it irritates us. We must request the high command to put an end to this. Let us see how to speak about it further," Balakrishna said.
He said summoning leaders individually would not help.
"We are clear. The high command should intervene and draw a final curtain on this issue," Balakrishna said.
He added that when Congress MLAs gather, conversations naturally happen.
"During such discussions, many MLAs expressed that unless this is resolved, it will be difficult for us and our future will be uncertain," the MLA said, hinting that the leadership issue would damage the party's prospects in the 2028 assembly election.
When asked about the calls to change the Congress Karnataka unit president, which Shivakumar has been holding for the past 10 years, he said let the high command change if it wishes.
"We only want a final decision. Whether they change the president or someone else, that is not the main question. Our demand is that a final shape be given to the Congress party here," the MLA emphasised.
To a question about whether he was suggesting changing the Chief Minister in the state, Balakrishna said, "Didn't the high command say a decision will be made? Whether they change the president or the CM is the high command's decision. But a decision must be made. It's not just our opinion. What we want is that the confusion must end."
The meeting took place about a week before the budget session of the Karnataka legislature that will start from March 6.
Some other MLAs said they want Shivakumar to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The power tussle has flared up in the state since November, 2025, when the Congress government completed the halfway mark of two-and-half years.
There have been reports when the Congress came to power that there was a power sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
According to the agreement, Siddaramaiah will be the CM for the first two-and-half years, and later Shivakumar would take charge. There was no definitive confirmation though.
Shivakumar has been hinting that a power sharing agreement did exist and very few people know it.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah has been asserting that he would remain the CM for the full five year term.
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