Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa courts controversy with Aishwarya Rai remark
Bengaluru: Senior Karnataka Minister K S Eshwarappa on Friday stoked a controversy by likening the post of the Deputy Chief Minister with film actor Aishwarya Rai.
"...who doesn't want the post (of deputy chief minister)? A young man coming of age aspires for someone like Aishwarya Rai.
Isn't she just one?" the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj told reporters. He was replying to a query on whether any of the disqualified MLAs after winning the election can be made the Deputy Chief Minister.
The B S Yediyurappa-led Cabinet has three Deputy Chief Ministers.
While acknowledging the "contribution" of the disqualified Congress and JDS MLAs, Eshwarappa said had they not resigned from their parties the JD(S), the BJP government would not have come to power.
Eshwarappa said politicians do have aspirations, but there should be scope for fulfilling them as everybody cannot be made Deputy Chief Minister.
As many as 13 out of 15 disqualified MLAs contested the December 5 bypolls on a BJP ticket. Now all eyes are set on December 9 when the election results will be announced.
The outcome will decide the future of the B S Yediyurappa-led government, as the BJP needs to win at least six seats to remain in majority in the Assembly.
BJP has 105 MLAs (including an independent) in the assembly with the current strength of 208 after the disqualifications, while Congress has 66 and the JD(S) 34.
There is also one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker.
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Nitish launches programmes worth Rs 405 crore in Jehanabad, Arwal districts
Jehanabad/Arwal (PTI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday launched several development projects and schemes valued at around Rs 405 crore in Jehanabad and Arwal districts during his ‘Samridhi Yatra’.
Of the programmes, Jehanabad received programmes worth Rs 252 crore and Arwal govt projects valued at Rs 153 crore, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
Kumar also reviewed ongoing schemes and development projects in both districts.
“The CM launched development projects/schemes worth Rs 252 crore in Jehanabad district. These included the inauguration of 88 programmes costing Rs 70 crore and laying the foundation stones for 73 others worth Rs 182 crore,” the statement said.
Kumar inaugurated a stitching training-cum-production centre for Jeevika Didis at the old block office premises in Jehanabad.
The state government, through the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), an autonomous body under the Department of Rural Development, is spearheading a World Bank-aided rural livelihoods project with the objective of social and economic empowerment of the poor. Women associated with the project are called Jeevika Didis.
Encouraging Jeevika Didis associated with the centre, the CM said, “The government is providing all possible facilities. We are making every effort to promote self-employment among you.”
Later in the day, Kumar launched 272 development projects/schemes worth around Rs 153 crore in Arwal district. These included the inauguration of 250 programmes valued at Rs 90 crore and laying the foundation stones for 22 projects worth Rs 63 crore, said the statement.
The CM also inaugurated and inspected the upgradation work carried out at the government’s higher secondary school at Itwan. During the inspection, he reviewed the astronomy laboratory and smart learning hub at the school.
The chief minister directed officials to complete the work of all ongoing projects on time. He also reviewed the land identified for the Government Medical College and Hospital at Belkhara.
