The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Legislators have a day of fun and sun

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Legislators have a day of fun and sun

Nagesh Prabhu

WE SHALL WIN: The Chairman of the Legislative Council, V.R. Sudarshan (centre), administering the oath to his team, (from left) the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa; the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramiah; the MLC Salim; the MLA, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and the Minister for Health, N. Chaluvaraya Swamy, at the inauguration of Legislators' Day celebrations in Bangalore on Friday. (Right) Arun Machaiah, MLC, breaking a stack of tiles in a Karate event. — Photos: V. Sreen ivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: They changed their political colours from white, wore sporting gear, and gave up crossing the floor to sprint the 50-metre and 100-metre races. Instead of making tall promises, they smashed earthen pots and sportingly participated in a tug of war. "They" were the MLAs and MLCs of the State .

It was an event filled day, if not eventful, as the legislators took part in the Legislators' Day celebrations at Sri Kanteerva and Chinnswamy stadia here on Friday. Day one of the two-day event started with track and field — 50-metre and 100-metre dash for men and women, shot put, lemon-and-spoon race; and games — volleyball, table tennis, kabbadi, and tennis, and swimming.

The Governor T.N. Chaturvedi inaugurated the celebrations recalling that Legislators' Day celebrations in the State were held for the first time in 1963 when B. Vaikunta Baliga was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (1962-68) and S. Nijalingappa was the Chief Minister.

Such events will help the legislators develop a feeling of unity, harmony, and affection towards one another. The Chief Minister, who is leading the team, Dharam Singh XI, against B.S. Yediyurappa XI, said the Government will build stadia and ranga mandiras in the taluk headquarters for promoting sport and cultural activities. A loan of Rs. 25 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will also be obtained to promote sports in the State.

The Speaker, Krishna, appealed to the Government to organise Legislators' Day programmes every year. As many as 80 legislators are participating in sports events and 50 in cultural events, he said.

The Chairman of the Legislative Council, V.R. Sudarshan, who welcomed the dignitaries, urged the Government to allocate adequate funds in the next Budget for building stadia and ranga mandiras.

The contingents led by the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah; the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa; the MLAs Araga Jnanendra and H.D. Kumaraswamy; the MLCs, M.P. Nadagouda and Jalaja Naik; and representative of the Press Club of Bangalore, Sadashiva Shenoy, carried their respective flags.

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