Dasara elephant Ashwatthama dies allegedly due to electrocution
Mysuru (Karnataka), Jun 11: Dasara elephant 'Ashwatthama', died due to alleged electrocution in the early hours of Tuesday, official sources said.
The thirty-eight-year-old elephant allegedly came in contact with the solar fencing amid rainfall at the Bhimanakatte elephant camp of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) in Hunsur taluk here, they said.
The elephant was cremated, after a post-mortem was conducted in the presence of senior officials and veterinarians.
Ashwatthama was rescued from Sakleshpur taluk in Hassan district in 2017. He participated in the famous Dasara Jumbo Savari procession held at the Mysore Palace premises in 2021, during the pandemic, and also in 2022.
Condoling Ashwatthama's death, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the elephant reportedly fell on the solar electric fence and died, and officials have been directed to inquire into the death and submit a report.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too has expressed grief over Ashwatthama's death.
"The death of Ashwatthama, the elephant who participated in the Mysuru Dasara and won the appreciation of millions of people, is painful. Due to his calm nature and solemnity, he soon became a part of the world famous Dasara, serving mother (Goddess) Chamundeshwari. Ashwatthama's memory will remain forever in our hearts," he posted on 'X'.
ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗೊಂಡು ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ ಜನರ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆ ಗಳಿಸಿದ್ದ ಆನೆ ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಾಮನ ಸಾವು ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದೆ. ತನ್ನ ಶಾಂತ ಸ್ವಭಾವ ಮತ್ತು ಗಾಂಭೀರ್ಯದಿಂದಾಗಿ ಬಹುಬೇಗನೇ ವಿಶ್ವವಿಖ್ಯಾತ ದಸರಾದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ತಾಯಿ ಚಾಮುಂಡೇಶ್ವರಿಯ ಸೇವೆಗೈದಿದ್ದ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) June 11, 2024
ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಾಮನ ನೆನಪು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿರಲಿದೆ. #ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಾಮ #ಮೈಸೂರುದಸರಾ pic.twitter.com/XXqBC9M6q6
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Ramdas Athawale backs Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM; says Shinde can shift to Centre
New Delhi, Nov 26: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale, a key BJP ally, on Tuesday called for a quick decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra and suggested that incumbent Eknath Shinde should shift to the Centre as a Union minister.
Addressing a press conference here, Athawale also backed senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, contending that the saffron party won the maximum number of seats in the 288-member Assembly and should have the right to the top executive post in the state.
He said a peculiar situation has arisen in Maharashtra where BJP leaders want Fadnavis as the chief minister, while Shiv Sena leaders want Shinde to continue in the post, citing the good work he has done over the last two and a half years.
Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, said NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has declared that he was not in the race for the chief minister.
"We need to resolve this matter, without any further delay. The election results were announced on November 23 and we should have had the oath of the new chief minister on November 26, the Constitution Day," Athawale said.
Backing Fadnavis for the post of chief minister, Athawale said Shinde can become the deputy chief minister or shift to the Centre and join the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Athawale said his RPI(A) has a presence in every part of the state, but unfortunately lost the two seats -- Dharavi and Kalina -- offered to it in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.
He demanded that an RPI member be made an MLC and a minister in the state government.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections winning 235 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, who are part of the alliance, won five seats.
