The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : No bustle at Secretariat as Ministers are busy with bypoll

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

No bustle at Secretariat as Ministers are busy with bypoll

Special Correspondent

They are canvassing for the JD(S) candidate in Chamundeshwari

DESOLATE: The corridors of the Vidhana Saudha wear a deserted look. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: A large number of visitors to the Vidhana Soudha, which houses the Secretariat, from various districts are returning empty-handed, thanks to the absence of Ministers who have been campaigning for byelection to the Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency,

The visitors are upset because they may not be able to meet their elected representatives at least till December 4, the date of the byelection.

The Chief Minister did not visit the Secretariat last week. Ministers belonging to Janata Dal (Secular) are also away in Mysore.

Ministers have joined the campaign by Mr. Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda. Most of the elected representatives of the Congress, Janata Dal (S) and Janata Dal (United) too are engaged in campaigning in Mysore. Except Minister for Small Scale Industries Shivananda Naik of the BJP, none of the Ministers attended their offices on Tuesday morning. On Monday, Minister for Revenue Jagadish Shettar and Minister for Horticulture Shivanand Appa Naik attended offices and held press briefings. The number of presspersons covering the Secretariat beat has also dwindled. Even the employees appeared to be in a relaxed mood.

Attendance in some of the offices was visibly poor. The scene was not much different on the outer premises of the Vidhana Soudha that was marked by relaxed security and less vehicular traffic.

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