Bypolls: How BJP's caste plank cracked
Victory in the two bypolls to Gundlupet and Nanjangud after a triangular contest turned into a straight fight between the two national parties, has given a sulking Congress party a shot in the arm, ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls. While the absence of JD(S) candidate in the fray, the ruling party's track record in the constituencies, and the high-voltage campaign by a battalion of 12 ministers led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did help the ruling party, the verdict of the two strong communities—dalits and Lingayat, which hold the sway in the region, is a clear indication that the BJP will have to rethink its strategy.
In Nanjangud, former minister and dalit leader V. Srinivas Prasad, who contested on a BJP ticket (after his fallout with Congress) faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy. While Geeta Mahadevaprasad, widow of the sitting MLA and minister H.S. Mahadeva Prasad defeated BJP's Niranjan Kumar in Gundlupet. The result is worrying for the BJP, which has set its eyes on “Mission 150” in the coming polls. Despite the fact that Lingayat strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa leading the bypoll campaign, the saffron party has lost not just the polls, but confidence too. The Lingayat community, which has traditionally backed BJP, and the sizable dalit votes have gone in favour of the Congress. BJP sure has learnt a lesson on the perils of banking on caste-based politics.
'Kattappa should apologise'
Before Kannadigas can get to know why Kattapa killed Baahubali, Kattappa will perhaps need to seek a public apology for his alleged derogatory remarks against Kannadigas. Even as moviebuffs in the country are awaiting the release of Baahubali: The Conclusion, the pro-Kannada organisations in the state have demanded an apology from actor Sathyaraj, who plays Kattapa in the film, to allow the screening of the film.
It is learnt the pro-Kannada activists led by Vatal Nagaraj have threatened not to allow the film screening if Satyaraj does not apologise for his remarks made against people of Karnataka during a Cauvery water row some nine years ago.
Director S.S. Rajamouli has expressed his displeasure over the development saying it is politically motivated.
“Whatever the comments, Mr Sathyaraj made it nine years back. And after that, about 30 films of his were released in Karnataka. Baahubali 1 released too. No one had problems with that. And suddenly, raking up the issue now is not right,” argued Rajamouli.
New Metro line to bring relief for 'criss-crossers'
In the IT city, the word “traffic” is not about the net traffic, but the notorious vehicular traffic on the roads causing gridlock in the Central Business District. The traffic snarls and the painful sage of everyday commuting has hit global headlines, and inspired studies on “losses in revenue and productivity” owing to traffic jams!
With the North-South corridor of the Namma Metro inching towards the commissioning stage, Bengalureans are hopeful of some respite in the coming months.
With trials on Namma Metro’s Green Line progressing on schedule, officials of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) say the entire line could be commissioned in the second half of May. With this, the lines connecting Sampige Road to National College and National College to Yelachanahalli, will make crisscrosiing the city faster and hassle-free. It is time for all Bengalureans to dump their cars, bikes, and symbolic Bus Days to become the cool “Metro-person”.
Drought: Go thrifty to avoid going thirsty, says minister
Karnataka has just enough water to quench its thirst. The available live storage in the state's reservoirs is alarmingly low as KRS dam and the Kabini dam together have only 4.7 TMC, against the drinking water requirement for 60 days at 4.5 TMC. Karnataka water resources minister M.B. Patil has appealed to the citizens to use water judiciously.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who reviewed the drought situation via video conference attended by 30 deputy commissioners, said almost 1,575 villages and wards suffering from water shortages would be provided water through water tankers.
Siddaramaiah has also written a letter to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavais expressing his gratitude for release of 2.3 tmc of water from Koyna dam to Krishna river, which would benefit drought-hit districts of Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Belagavi in the state. He has also sought additional release of 2 tmc, considering the grave situation in the region.
JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy blamed the state government for its alleged lapses in utilisation of Rs 1,650 crore allocated by the Union government for drought relief. “This is unpardonable, as the state has estimated crop loss of Rs 65,000 crore over the last three years, but has not effectively utilised the funds released by the Centre,” said Kumaraswamy.
The water war between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on Cauvery continues with Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss making a fresh allegation against the Karnataka government of trying to redirect the Cauvery water. “Water released from Karnataka (from Hemavathi dam - 150 cusecs, Krishnarajasagar dam - 873 cusecs, Kabali - 100 cusecs and Harangi - 9 cusecs) has not reached Hogenakkal falls as yet.”
Though Ramadoss' charges need close examination, it is evident that Karnataka is in a fix over the release of water in a drought year. Not releasing water would amount to contempt of the Supreme Court.
Kempegowda Jayanti celebration put on hold
An election year always warrants invoking the forgotten icons. The latest to join the list of historical figures (after Basavanna, Valmiki and Tipu Sultan), who will try wooing the caste votes is Nada Prabhu Kempegowda, a Vokkaliga hero, who built the city of Bengaluru in 1537 AD. The state government which had announced grand celebrations of Kempegowda Jayanati on April 17, had to cancel this following confusion over his date of birth.
Energy minister D.K. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga strongman took the lead in constituting the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Development Authority to ascertain the exact date. While Kannada and Culture department consultation report stated it as April 17, the newly formed Authority which held consultations with historians, scholars and Vokkaliga organisations, in the presence of the influential Adichunchungiri Math's pontiff Nirmalananda Nath Swami has finally concluded it is June 27. Given the fact that the Kempegowda clan runs into 14 generations, and “Kempegowda” being a popular choice of name in every generation, the government has a tough task ahead.
NGT warns govt over frothing lake
The Siddaramaiah government has once again drawn flak from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for doing little to plug the discharge of untreated sewage into Bellandur's frothing lake. Sudden showers causing frothing in the lakes hints that the government has done little to salvage the lake.
In a hearing held on April 12 2017, NGT warned of passing restraining directions against the state, if the discharge of untreated sewage into the lake is not stopped immediately. The Tribunal also pulled up Karnataka Lake Catchment Development Authority (KLCDA) for allowing the situation to reach a stage where lake catches fire. The State government, KLCDA and other authorities have been directed to apprise the court of the measures taken after the lake fire incident on February 16, 2017. Meanwhile Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) has been allowed to implead in the case.
