The Hindu : Karnataka News : Political aspirations ride high

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Political aspirations ride high

Staff Correspondent

MLAs vie for ministerial berths

JD(S) legislators lobbying hard for power
D. Manjunath projected as strongest contender

Chitradurga: With a new Government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party in place, lobbying for ministerial berths has intensified. Many legislators who were not a part of the previous government hope to be given a chance this time.

Chitradurga district has seven Assembly constituencies, of which five have been won by the Congress and one each by the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Janata Dal (United). There is one MLC from the JD(S).

The Bharamasagar seat was won by H. Anjaneya on a JD(U) ticket. He later joined the JD(S). This put the number of JD(S) MLAs in the district at two.

Mr. Anjaneya, along with Hiriyur MLA D. Manjunath and B.T. Chennabasappa, MLC, are said to be hopeful of securing a ministerial berth in the newly formed government.

Irregular visits

Though the former Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti was designated as Minister in-charge of the district, he seldom visited the district citing increase in official responsibilities.

His rare visits to the district had disappointed party workers, who expected a more involved leader to be given charge. This time, among three MLAs, the former Minister D. Manjunath is said to be the strongest contender for the post. Mr. Manjunath, a long-time associate of the JD(S), has spent over three decades in politics and has served as a Minister in the past. He was earlier Minister for Higher Education during the Congress-JD(S) Government. Being fairly senior, he had even been considered for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. Owing to the fact that he was not given an assignment in the previous coalition Government, he is now hoping for a portfolio. Mr. Chennabasappa, who is one of the leaders of the Lingayat community, is also hopeful of a ministerial assignment. He may face tough competition from another Lingayat leader, Amaregouda Bayyapur.

The third legislator in the fray is Mr. Anjaneya. Though some people believe that he may not be given any portfolio owing to stiff competition the possibility cannot be not rejected outright.

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