Senior Congress MLA says 'lucky' Siddaramaiah became CM twice, leaving behind old guard
Koppal/Bengaluru, Aug 3: Senior Congress MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy has remarked that luck or good fortune played a key role in shaping the political future of certain leaders, citing the example of Siddaramaiah who became Chief Minister after joining the party, "leaving behind the old guard".
Rayareddy also noted that people much junior to him have become ministers.
The comments have come amidst reports of brewing discontent within the ruling party, with as many as 30 legislators reportedly having written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies and functioning of certain ministers.
Rayareddy is also said to be one of the signatories of such a letter, according to party sources.
"L K Advani built the BJP, but Modi became the Prime Minister. Sometimes luck is in favour of certain people like this. Look at Siddaramaiah; after coming to Congress he twice became the Chief Minister. What should the old guard in Congress be thinking? It is all time of a particular individual," Rayareddy remarked.
Addressing a gathering in Koppal on Wednesday, he said, "People who used to walk behind me have become ministers. About 20 of them, I was an MLA with their fathers, but today they show arrogance in front of me. I was MLA and MP with Bommai's (Basavaraj Bommai) father (S R Bommai). I was minister in Deve Gowda's cabinet; Kumaraswamy was then scared of standing next to me. What to do? it was written in his fortune (to become CM)."
"So many people won't get an opportunity (to be part of govt) sometimes, but it doesn't mean they (those getting opportunity) are great and we are less. One should have the mentality to serve; power may come and go, but one has to serve," he added.
Siddaramaiah, who was earlier with Janata Dal and JD(S), joined the Congress in 2006.
Rayareddy, a former minister too was earlier with Janata Dal.
Clarifying that his statement was regarding being lucky in politics, Rayareddy today speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi said that eligibility and seniority is not a yardstick in politics.
"On the basis of social justice and regional factors ministers are made, it has become the tradition," he said. He said that in his opinion it is better if those who have experience in administration become ministers.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
