Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Bengaluru/Bidar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a blistering attack on the Congress, dubbing them as ‘dynastic parties’, which are number one in corruption and keep their family’s interests on top, as he stepped up the BJP’s campaign in poll-bound Karnataka.

He also accused the Congress of insulting its veterans, and said the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated former chief minister B S Yediyurappa on his birthday is something which all the political parties should learn on how to treat such leaders.

Shah addressed two public meetings as part of BJP’s “Vijay Sankalpa Yatra” ahead of the polls due by May at the district headquarters town of Bidar and Devanahalli near Bengaluru.

“You have to decide whether you want to vote for FDI-friendly BJP, or Congress and JD(S), which are number one in corruption”, he told the gathering.

“Do you want BJP which made Karnataka number one in aviation and space, or Congress and JD(S), which keep their family interest at number one place?” he asked.

BENGALURU:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah continues to focus on Bengaluru city ahead of the Assembly elections with an aim to win all the 28 constituencies in the state capital which is crucial for BJP to retain power in Karnataka.

Shah, who addressed people from all walks of life at the Town Hall in the city during his last visit, will launch the Safe City project with allocations from Nirbhaya funds on March 3. Bengaluru is one of the eight cities across the country selected under the scheme by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

With polls to the Bengaluru civic body yet to be held, which if held would have helped BJP gauge the voters’ mind, the party will have to go the extra mile to woo the public who are reeling under several civic woes, including pothole-ridden roads. “Hence, visits by national leaders like Shah and PM Narendra Modi are needed for the party,” said a political expert.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, the then Ruling Congress won 15 of the 28 seats in Bengaluru. While BJP bagged 11, two seats were won by JDS. However, in 2019, three Congress MLAs (ST Somashekar, Byrati 
Basavaraj and Munirathna) and a JDS MLA (K Gopalaiah) switched over to BJP and won the bypolls later, taking the party’s tally to 15.

Shah is also leaving nothing to chance and will cash in on the legacy of the city’s founder Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda by launching the fourth ‘ratha’, part of the party’s Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra, from Chennakeshava temple in Devanahalli that was built by the ruler. He will also address a public rally.

KPCC working president and former minister Ramalinga Reddy, however, predicted that Shah’s repeated visits to the city will not have a positive impact on BJP’s poll prospects. “In every election, Bengaluru proved cosmopolitan with 20% of the  voters exercising their franchise without considering caste, creed, language, and even religion. This will be the case this time too. Congress will win more seats,” he predicted.

Belagavi: With Assembly polls in Karnataka round the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a massive road show in this district headquarters city, waving at a large number of enthusiastic crowd, who had lined up on both sides of the route.

The Prime Minister is in the city to lay the foundation stone and dedicate multiple development initiatives, and also to release the 13th instalment of PM-KISAN worth more than Rs 16,800 crores. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme launched by the Centre in 2019, all landholding farmer families in the country are provided income support of Rs 6,000 in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each, every four months.

About 10.5-km-long road show route to Malini City (venue of the stage event) was decked up with saffron hues,as BJP flags, posters and banners were seen all along.

Standing on the ‘running board’ of his moving car, Modi greeted by waving at the crowd gathered on the sides of the roads and on nearby buildings, many of whom were seen chanting ‘Modi, Modi’ slogans and shouting loud cheers.

At many places, people showered flower petals as his cavalcade passed through the stretch slowly.

Over 10,000 women clad in saree and saffron peta (traditional headgear) accorded a ‘purnakumbha’ (ceremonial) welcome to Modi, party sources said.

There were also a number of stage shows, some also equipped with LEDs, put up along the route, depicting the culture and traditions of various regions of the country and historic personalities, also programmes of the BJP government, they said.

Karnataka, a BJP governed state, goes to Assembly polls by May.

After Bengaluru Urban with 27 Assembly segments (28 including Anekal), Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, is the second biggest district in the State with 18 seats.

In 2018, BJP won 13 seats in Belagavi, and emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats in the State.

Nasheman news

IV Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards 2023
The shortlists for the IV Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards 2023
were announced on Saturday in Bengaluru. The awards are constituted by
the Chandanavana Film Critics Academy and the nominations are based on
voting by Kannada film journalists and critics.

The Fourth edition of the Awards will include seven new award categories.
Five of these are for debut actors and technicians. These are Best Actor
(Debut) Sanchari Vijay Award, Best Actress (Debut) Tripuramba Award, Best
Director (Debut) Shankar Nag Award, Best Producer (Debut) Puneeth
Rajkumar Award, and Best Writer (Debut) Chi Udayshankar Award. The total
number of awards this year is 27.

The trophy of the 4th edition was unveiled by Sandalwood’s popular director
Yogaraj Bhat and actors Iti Acharya, Pavana Gowda and Sangeetha Bhat.
They praised the film critics for the initiative to constitute these awards.
“These awards are unique. I am a recipient of the Best Lyricist award last year
and I know its value. The opinions of critics shapes new creations forces film
makers to upgrade, improve and strive for something special all the time. The
stature of the Chandanavana Film Critics’ Awards is growing with passing
year and as film makers we look forward to this annual event with so much
expectation,” Yogaraj Bhat said.

Film critics have voted to select the nominations from Kannada films released
in 2022. Kanatra, KGF Chapter 2, 777 Charlie are among the films nominated
in multiple categories this year. The Awards Event is scheduled to be held On 5th March

1. 777 Charlie
2. Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage
3. Kantara
4. KGF 2
5. Wheelchair Romeo
   Best Director
6. Anup Bhandari (Vikrant Rona)
7. Jadesh Hampi (Guru Sishyaru)
8. Kiranraj K (777 Charlie)
9. Prashant Neel (KGF 2)
10. Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
    Best Screenplay
11. 777 Charlie (Kiranraj K)
12. Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage (
    Shridhar Shikharipura)
13. Kantara (Rishab Shetty and Anirudh
    Mahesh)
14. KGF 2 (Prashant Neel)
15. Love Mocktail 2 (Darling Krishna )
    Best Dialogues
16. 777 Charlie (Kiran K, Raj B Shetty,
    Abijith Mahesh)
17. Guru Shisyaru (Maasthi)
18. Kantara (Rishab Shetty)
19. Vedha (Raghu Niduvali)
20. Wheel Chair Romeo (Nataraj G)
    Best Lead Actor
21. Pruthvi Ambar (Sugarless)
22. Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
23. Rakshith Shetty (777 Charlie)
24. Ram Chetan (Wheelchair Romeo)
25. Yash (KGF 2)
    Best Lead Actress
26. Ashika Ranganath (Raymo)
27. Aishani Shetty (Dharani Mandala
    Madhyadolage)
28. Sapthami Gowda (Kantara)
29. Sonal Monteiro (Banaras)
30. Sharmila Mandre (Gaalipata 2)
    Best Supporting Actor
31. Diganth (Gaalipata 2)
32. Dattanna (Guru Shishyaru)
33. Gopal Krishna Deshpande (10)
34. Kishore (Kantara)
35. Suchendra Prasad (Wheelchair
    Romeo)
    Best Supporting Actress
36. Hema Dutta (Thotapuri)
37. Rachitha Ram (Monsoon Raaga)
38. Suhasini (Monsoon Raaga)
39. Sudharani (Thurthu Nirgamana)
40. Umashree (Vedha)
    Best Child Artist
41. Ekanth Prem (Guru Sishyaru)
42. Hruday Sharan (Guru Sishyaru)
43. Mahendra Prasad (Jordan)
44. Praanya M Rao (Jamaligudda)
45. Sharvari (777 Charlie)
    Best Music
46. Ajaneesh Loknath (Kantara)
47. Arjun Janya (Gaalipata 2)
48. Anoop Seelin (Monsoon Raaga)
49. Ajaneesh Loknath (Banaras)
50. Nobin Paul (777 Charlie)
    Best BGM
51. Ajaneesh Lokanath (Vikranth Rona)
52. Anoop Seelin (Monsoon Raaga)
53. Ajaneesh Lokanath (Kantara)
54. Arjun Janya (Padavipoorva)
55. Ravi Basrur (KGF 2)
    Best Lyrics
56. V Nagendra Prasad (Belakina
    Kavithe – Banaras)
57. Raghavendra Kamat (SanchariLove Mocktail 2)
58. Shashank (Jagave Neenu Gelathiye

• Love 360)

1. Trilok Trivikrama (Karmada Kallanu
   Edavida – Kantara)
2. Yograj Bhat (Prayashaha –
   Gaalipata 2)
   Best Singer Male
3. Mohan V – (Junjappa – Vedha)
4. Sai Vignesh (Varaha Roopam –
   Kantara)
5. Sanjith Hegde (Belakina Kavite –
   Banaras)
6. Sid Sriram (Jagave Neenu – Love
   360)
7. Vijay Prakash (Singara Siriye –
   Kantara)
   Best Singer Female
8. Ankita Kundu (Naa Ninage
   Kavalugaara- James)
9. Aishwarya Rangarajan, (Meet
   Madana – Ek Love Ya)
10. Ananya Bhat (Kantara)
11. Mangli (Yavano Ivanu Gillakko)
12. Sunidhi Chauhan (Ekka Sakka –
    Vikrant Rona)
    Best Cinematography
13. Arvind Kashyap (Charlie and
    Kantara)
14. Bhuvan Gowda (KGF 2)
15. Karam Chawla (10)
16. William David (Vikrant Rona)
17. Vishwajith Rao (Khasagi Putagalu)
    Best Editing
18. Prateek Shetty (Kantara)
19. K M Prakash (Guru Sishyaru)
20. Prateek Shetty (777 Charlie)
21. Sri Crazy Minds (Love Mocktail-2)
22. Ujwal Kulkarni (KGF2)
    Best Art Direction
23. Dharani – Kantara
24. Guna – Monsoon Raaga
25. Ravi Santhehaklu – Vedha
26. Shiva Kumar – Vikrant Rona
27. Shivakumar J – KGF Chapter 2
    Best Choreography
28. Harsha A (Veda – Junjappa)
29. Imran Sardariya (Raymo Faymo –
    Raymo)
30. Jaani Master (Ra Ra Rakamma –
    Vikrant Rona)
31. Murali (Rama Rama – Dil Pasand)
32. Mohan (Ek Love Ya – Meet
    Madona )
    Best Stunt/Action
33. Anbariv (KGF-2)
34. Chetan Dsouza, Arjun Raj, Vikram
    Mor, Dr Ravi Varma (Vedha)
35. Vinod, Chetan Dsouza ( Head Bush)
36. Vikram Mor (Kantara)
37. Vijay (Vikrant Rona)
    Best VFX
38. 777 Charlie – Rahul V
    Gopalakrishna – Pinaka Studios
39. KGF 2 (Udayravi Hegde – Unifi
    Media)
40. Thurthu Nirgamana (Nitin Anand,
    Indrajith Unni Pulliath – Sutra and IVFX )
41. Vedha – Jupiter – Elango, Subeesh
42. Vikrant Rona ( Nirmal Kumar –
    Radiance)
    Best Debut Actor – Sanchari Vijay
    Award
43. Karthick Mahesh (Dollu)
44. Pruthvi Shamanoor (Padavipoorva)
45. Raana (Ek Luv Ya)
46. Rohit Sridhar (Vasanthi Nalidaga)
47. Zaid Khan (Banaras)
    Best Debut Actress
48. Anjali Anish (Padavipurva)
49. Reshma Naniah (Ek Love Ya)
50. Rachel David (Love Mocktail 2)
51. Shwetha Leonilla D’souza (Khasagi
    Putagalu)
52. Yasha Shivakumar
    (Padavipurva/Mansoon Raaga)
    Best Debut Director – Shankar Nag
    Award
53. Karm Chawla – 10
54. Nataraj G – Wheelchair Romeo
55. Sridhar Shikaripura – Dharani
    Mandala Madhyadolage
56. Sagar Puranik – Dollu
57. Shashidhar K – Sugarless
    Best Debut Producer – Puneeth
    Rajkumar Award
58. Abhilash Shetty (Koli Taal)
59. Geetha Pictures (Vedha)
60. Manju V Raj (Khasagi Putagalu)
61. Omkar Arya (Dharani Mandala
    Madhyadolage)
62. Pawan Wadeyar (Dollu)
    Best Debut Writer – Chi
    Udayshankar Award
63. Dollu (Sagar Puranik and
    Shreenidhi D S)
64. Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage
    (Sridhar Shikaripura)
65. Kamblihulla (Naveen Srinivas)
66. Kasagi Putagalu (Santhosh
    Srikantappa)
67. Window Seat (Sheetal Shetty)
    Best YouTube Creator of the Year
68. Gagan Srinivas (Dr Bro)
69. Asha and Kiran (Flying Passport)
70. K S Parameshwara (Kala
    Madhyama)
71. Raam Mahabala (Global
    Kannadiga)
72. Sandeep Gowda (Tech in Kannada)
    Best Social Media Entertainer of the
    Year
73. Raghu Gowda (Vine Store Raghu)
74. Pavan Venegopal
75. Sonu Venugopal
76. Pavan Kulkarni (Udaal Pavvya)
77. Vikas (Vicky Pedia)
    26-02-2023
    Sunday
    Shortlist of Nominations for the
    

BENGALURU:  Taking a cue from New Zealand, which has passed a new law that prohibits anyone who is born after 2008 from buying cigarettes or tobacco products, the state health department is coming up with a similar model for Karnataka to create a tobacco-free generation by 2025. As a result, as the years pass, only fewer people will be able to buy tobacco and pave the way for a tobacco-free generation.

The State Tobacco Control Cell, a wing of the health department, has prepared a roadmap. According to its vision, all those born in and after 2007 cannot have access to any tobacco products across Karnataka.

“The legal age for tobacco use is 18. Those born in and after 2007 will attain 18 years by 2025. We want to build a society where tobacco products are inaccessible even after 18 years. For example, a 2007-born will attain 23 years in 2030, but he cannot purchase tobacco. So as years pass, the number of tobacco users will come down,” said a source, who is aware of the initiative.

The source said that the whole idea is to put an end to easy access to tobacco by children who experiment with it and get addicted. “Majority of the tobacco-users pick the habit in their childhood and teenage. As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2, in Karnataka, 22.8 per cent of adults (approx 2.5 crore) use tobacco products. Youths are the  wealth of our nation and this tobacco-free generation initiative is to address the root cause of the easy availability of tobacco to children,” the source said.

BENGALURU: Sparks are flying quite literally in Bengaluru. Residents across the city have been complaining of a sudden spike in static shocks over the last fortnight, while doctors and scientists said this could be because of the prevalent weather.

Chief of Medical Department, Vikram Hospital, Dr K M Manjunath said, “There is no specific explanation for it. Winter has not yet fully gone from the city and the mornings are still cold. Static electric shocks are witnessed during winter. I have experienced it many times in the US during the cold season. It particularly happens if one is wearing polyester clothing.”

Another doctor, who requested anonymity, said the weather changing from winter to summer could be the reason for such a high incidence. IISc scientist Prof JM Chandra Kishan, said static charges get transmitted from one object to another. 

“For instance, you suddenly touch a glass rod with wool, it happens. The incidence is high among people who wear woollen clothes. The static charges ultimately dissipate into the ground but get passed around before that,” he said. 

Giving each other big shocks at home: Resident

TINU Cherian Abraham, a communications professional, who resides in Whitefield, said, “We are giving each other big shocks at home. Sometimes, we even see sparks when we touch each other. I thought it was just our home having some issues.

I got to know that many people in Bengaluru are facing it. I have never faced something like this before.” Aakanksha Gaur, a creative director, tweeted, Bangalore folks, are you getting static shocks on touching metal since a few days? A crazy number of my friends are experiencing this. I saw a real little spark while opening the door knob.” Her tweet went viral with hundreds sharing similar experiences.

In response, Poornima Prabhu said that she felt especially with car doors and while oiling her daughter’s hair. Rakesh Sharma added, “I have been experiencing this for the last 10 days. It happened even a day ago when I handed over my car keys to a valet for parking.” It also caused much mirth on social media with people speaking of romantic sparks flying between individuals.

BENGALURU: From 8 am on Tuesday (February 28), motorists passing through the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta section of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway (National Highway 275) will have to start paying the toll. The fee for a single journey ranges from Rs 135 to Rs 880, depending on the category of the vehicle. 

The decision to start collecting the toll was taken on Sunday after a meeting between the National Highways Authority of India officials and Ramanagara deputy commissioner and superintendent of police. BT Sridhara, Project Director, told TNIE, “We are starting the toll collection from Tuesday morning. We avoided Monday on the advice of the SP and DC.” 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to officially inaugurate the expressway on March 11.  Meanwhile, an official release said that the NHAI headquarters has issued orders to start collecting the toll from Kaniminike and Sheshaginihall toll plaza for the six-lane highway.  

Rates lesser for local commercial vehicles

THE toll for car/jeep/van is Rs 135 for single journey and Rs 205 for return journey within a single day and Rs 4,525 for monthly pass which covers 50 single journeys in a month.

For LCV/LGV/ mini-bus, it is Rs 220, Rs 330 and Rs 7,315; Truck/Bus (2 axle) Rs 460, Rs 690 and Rs 15,325; 3-axle commercial vehicle: Rs 500, Rs 750 and Rs 16,715; Heavy construction machinery/earth moving equipment (4-6 axle) Rs 720, Rs 1,080 an Rs 24,030 and Oversized vehicle (7 or more axles) Rs 880, Rs 1,315 and Rs 29,255.

For local commercial vehicles registered within the district where the plaza is located, the rates are lesser and costs Rs 70 for car, jeep and van; Rs 110 for minibus and LCV or LGV and Rs 230 for truck or bus. It costs Rs 250 for 3-axle, Rs 360 for heavy construction and Rs 440 for seven or more axles, the release added. For complaints, the public can call 1033.

Bengaluru: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the reason for his growth to this high stature in public life, said Karnataka BJP strongman and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday, delivering his last speech in the Legislative Assembly, of which he was a member for decades.

The 79-year old veteran leader, who has already announced his retirement from electoral politics, said till the last breath of his life he will honestly strive for building the party and to bring it to power.

Hailing former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, calling him a “role model”, he also advocated for more women representation in the Assembly.

Friday was the last day of the 15th Assembly of Karnataka legislature, as the state is due to go for polls by May.

“More women should get elected and come to this House. Male members should also cooperate and make space for more women members to get elected, this is my appeal,” Yediyurappa said in the Assembly.

Expressing gratitude to the people of his Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district for electing him repeatedly, he said working for the welfare of the people of the segment and enjoying their confidence was the duty of every legislator.

Yediyurappa, while participating in the debate on the Budget on February 22, had made a similar speech in the assembly, which he had called his “farewell speech”.

In July last year, he had announced that he will not be contesting the assembly polls, and will be vacating his Shikaripura Assembly seat, from where his younger son and party’s state Vice-President B Y Vijayendra will be contesting, if the high command agrees.

The veteran leader, who began his political career as ‘Purasabha’ (town municipal council) president in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, was first elected to the Assembly from Shikaripura in 1983 and went on to win eight times from there.

Noting that on February 27 he will turn 80, and on that special occasion Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Karnataka for the inauguration of the Shivamogga airport, Yediyurappa said, “He (PM) saying that he will come on my birthday for inaugurating the airport has made me overwhelmed with joy and satisfaction.”

“In my life I got several good opportunities from being a normal ‘Purasabha’ member to becoming CM. In those days when roads were not good, but I had the good fortune of travelling the state and various districts with (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“I don’t know whether the members now will believe or not, after I begin a meeting, Atal ji, Murli Manohar Joshi and (L K) Advani used to come, by then I would have started addressing the next meeting, this is how we tried to build the party,” said Yediyurappa, a four-time Chief Minister.

Recalling that there was no one along with him, during the initial days of the party, the Lingayat strong man said, at one point we had only two MLAs in the Assembly, and after Vasantha Bangera quit, I was left alone.

“I never looked back, and sitting on that side (opposition), I have honestly fought for the cause of the people and issues concerning the state. What gave me the most satisfaction was my fight to get justice for the farmers who did unauthorised cultivation, both in the Assembly and in Shivamogga by staging dharnas, and finally responding to it, then CM S M Krishna solved the issue,” he said.

Yediyurappa resigned as CM on July 26, 2021. Age was seen as a primary factor for his exit from the top job, with an unwritten rule in the BJP of keeping out those above 75 years from elected offices; also the BJP central leadership wanted to make way for fresh leadership ahead of the Assembly polls.

He said, “If I have grown to this high stature today, the reason for it is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the training I got there gave me the opportunities to hold various positions. I can never forget this in my life.”

Calling JD(S) Supremo Deve Gowda a “role model”, he said, “it is not a small thing, even today at this age (89) he thinks about matters relating to the country and the state, and gives guidance. We need no role model other than this. I believe there are a lot of things to learn from Deve Gowda.”

Pausing for some time during the speech, probably filled with emotions, Yediyurappa said, “I’m not able to understand what to speak and what not to, but I will be indebted to the people of my taluk who gave me an opportunity to work being part of this august house, and I will continue to serve them with honest till the last breath of my life.”

Observing that this was his last session in the Assembly, the former CM said, “all of you should get elected and come back. I have decided that I will not contest the polls, and being outside (the assembly) I will work to build the party and its victory till the last breath of my life, there is no second thoughts on this.”

“I will tour the state in the coming days, and work to bring BJP back to power, that’s my goal. I will not spend even a day for myself…. No need for you (BJP MLAs) to be disturbed…”

BJP’s victory in the coming assembly election is certain, he asserted.

Praising Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri for effectively running the House, Yediyurappa on the last day of the 15th assembly appealed to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to ensure that Kageri, in the next assembly sits on this ruling side and do good work as the Minister.

He also lauded the CM for his work towards the betterment of SC/ST communities and others. “People of the state have appreciated it and in the coming days we will see its benefits.”

Yediyurappa also praised Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah for fulfilling his duty with full commitment and with thorough study on various issues, concerning the state, and guiding the House.

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Friday accused Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of using the Justice H S Kempanna Commission’s report to give wrong information in the Assembly regarding the Arkavathy Layout denotification.

The Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly said the Chief Minister was acting with an intention to “hide” the corruption charges against the BJP government.

He was reacting to Bommai, who on Thursday in the Assembly, reading out the excerpts from the Justice Kempanna Commission’s report which is not in public, had accused the previous Congress government of “redo” or denotifiation of Arkavathy Layout land.

“When I was not present in the Assembly, Bommai shouted and created an impression that there was a big scam worth Rs 8,000 crore. The Kempanna Commission has said that I did not denotify even one gunta of land. Bommai is speaking plain lies,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here. One gunta is equal to 1,089 square feet.

He noted that Arkavathy Layout was formed in 2003, and before his government came to power, 2,750 acres were notified.

“Later, final notification was done for 1,919.13 acres. This was challenged in High Court and went to the Supreme Court, which fixed some parameters and teams were formed to delete some lands when B S Yediyurappa was the chief minister,” Siddaramaiah added.

The file next went to Jagadish Shettar who subsequently became the Chief Minister, but by then the model code of conduct for the election was in place, so it was sent back, he said.

“When our (Congress) government came, there was a petition in the High Court because of which there was some pressure.”

“As our officers had stated that everything was done as per the Supreme Court’s parameters. I approved it. It was not a redo, but a remodified scheme,” Siddaramaiah further said.

Subsequently as Shettar, who was then Leader of Opposition, and others alleged that there was a scam, he had formed a judicial commission for an inquiry, the Congress leader contended.

Pointing out that in September 2021, the HC constituted another committee under retired Justice K N Keshavanarayana, Siddaramaiah said: “Hearing a PIL that sought for tabling of the Justice Kempanna Commission’s report, the High Court had said it can’t be considered in view of the Keshavanarayana committee that’s functioning. Hence, it was wrong to speak on a report that was not tabled.”

With the ruling BJP accusing him of weakening the Lokayukta by forming the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Siddaramaiah also sought to defend his government’s decision to constitute the new state agency.

“Gujarat, Goa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and 12 other states have Lokayukta and ACB. Why isn’t the BJP abolishing ACB in these states?” he asked.

BENGALURU: Bidding a formal farewell on the last day of the last session of the 15th Assembly on Friday, senior BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa reiterated that he will not contest the next Assembly polls, claiming that his son BY Vijayendra is likely to take up the Shikaripura seat which he represented since 1983.

“But this does not mean I have retired. I will continue to work hard to bring BJP back to power,” he said. In Karnataka, which BJP considers as its gateway to the South, he managed to be at the helm every time the saffron party formed the government or was part of the government since 2006. Then, the N Dharam Singh-led Congress-JDS alliance government had collapsed and JDS senior leader HD Kumaraswamy formed the government in alliance with BJP, where Yediyurappa was his deputy. 

Yediyurappa expressed his gratitude to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh claiming that the BJP think tank was responsible for his phenomenal rise in politics. The Lingayat strongman sprang a surprise by terming former prime minister HD Deve Gowda as the ‘ideal’ leader and politicians have a lot to learn from him as he has been studious about subjects even at his old age.

He thanked Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, opposition leader Siddaramaiah and JDS leader AT Ramaswamy for their effective performance as legislators. He patted Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for delivering the goods, while the latter thanked Yediyurappa for his support.

Members of the House gave the 79-year-old leader a big round of applause as four decades of his illustrious political career with eight times as MLA and four times as CM came to an end.

“BJP gave me enough opportunities. I will turn 80 on February 27 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come to Shivamogga and inaugurate the airport. This has brought me great relief and satisfaction,” he told reporters. He added that his son BY Vijayendra, state BJP vice-president, will likely contest from the Shikaripura seat in the Assembly polls due in April/May.

He reminisced about the days of his struggle from being a member of the Shikaripur Municipal Council to becoming a chief minister. “I am eternally indebted to the people of Shikaripur and continue to repay it,” he said.

Last speech in House evokes mixed response

With former chief minister B S Yediyurappa bidding adieu to electoral politics, his farewell speech on the floor of the house evoked mixed reaction among MLAs cutting across party lines. Congress leader Eshwar Khandre said people of the state, especially Lingayats, will never forget the manner in which the BJP ousted Yediyurappa from the CM’s post with the latter breaking down in tears.

Replying quickly, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy advised Khandre not to take political mileage from the farewell day of the session. “I am not politicising, but expressing my feelings,” Khandre countered. 

Madhuswamy said, “Yediyurappa had taken the decision to step down as CM on his own and also to retire from electoral politics as age is a factor,” he remarked. However, Khandre gave the example of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and Congress MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa who are still active in electoral politics.

Former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal fired barbs at Yediyurappa. “I had the credentials of being the Union home minister in the Atal Behari Vajpeyi cabinet. But Yediyurappa snubbed me in the state as he had apprehension that I may run for the chief minister’s post,” Yatnal, a Panchamasali Lingayat leader, said.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who had also started his political career by contesting unsuccessfully from Thirthahalli assembly seat in 1983, observed that Yediyurappa’s farewell to electoral politics is a “matter of concern”.  Senior JD(S) MLA Sa Ra Mahesh termed Yediyurappa as his guru during the former’s initial stage in politics.