Shivakumar cancels Davos trip, cites engagements in Delhi and Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has cancelled his scheduled visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, citing official engagements in New Delhi and Bengaluru.
"The Deputy CM has a series of meetings lined up with AICC functionaries regarding Assam assembly elections and is also spearheading the campaign against the union government over MGNREGA due to which a five-day special session of the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled to begin from January 22," his office said in a release on Saturday.
According to the Deputy CM's itinerary, Shivakumar, who was in Delhi to take part in a preparatory meeting in connection with the Assembly elections in Assam, will be travelling to Bidar in northern Karnataka this evening.
He will attend the funeral of former minister Bheemanna Khandre, who died late last night, at the age of 102, in Bidar.
Later, he will travel to New Delhi via Hyderabad at night.
The decision to skip the Davos summit, scheduled from January 18 and Shivakumar's return to Delhi has fuelled speculations about the stability of current leadership.
It also comes in the backdrop of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's brief conversation with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy Shivakumar on Tuesday evening, sparking rumours that the high command may be addressing the ongoing power tussle.
The leadership tussle in the ruling party has intensified after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported 'power-sharing' arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of the government’s formation in 2023.
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Maharashtra civic polls: Parties lost should introspect, says Owaisi
Hyderabad (PTI): Thanking the people of Maharashtra for electing 125 of its candidates as corporators in various Municipal Corporations in the western state, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said the parties that lost the polls should introspect.
Addressing a press conference, Owaisi said the AIMIM party is gearing up to contest Municipal polls in Telangana and that the party already sought the names of interested candidates.
“Now those parties who abuse us (as BJP's B team) should think of themselves. It is the decision of the people. There is an English saying that victory has many fathers, defeat has none. Why did we (they) lose? Those great people will have to say. As far as the voters' list is concerned, it is correct,” he replied to a query.
Replying to a query on Thackeray cousins coming together, the Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP said the verdict is in front of everyone, and Uddhav Thackeray's candidate has won in the area where Eknath Shinde’s house is located.
“Our party has won. I am happy. I do not know about others,” he said.
Owaisi exuded confidence that his corporators who won on the party’s symbol would sail with the party, even as AIMIM is taking all precautionary measures to keep the flock together.
Reacting to a query on being called the BJP's "B team", Owaisi said he does not have a cure for such allegations.
"It (allegations) makes no difference to me. Those talking such nonsense should understand that you are disrespecting the people who voted for us. If you hurt them, your downfall will continue. AIMIM will become even stronger," he said.
Asked on reports of posters at Haridwar’s Hari Ki Paudi allegedly banning the entry of non-Hindus, Owaisi said this is against the Constitution. He said it is a form of untouchability and violates the right to equality.
