Karnataka   

BJP MLAs from flood-hit parts of Karnataka bask in resorts

BANGALORE: Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs from about 20 flood-affected taluks in Karnataka have been absent from their constituencies for the last several days. This comes at a time when relief and rehabilitation measures are yet to bring succour to the thousands of people who lost their homes, crops and belongings in one of the worst floods in recent times. Of these, 17 MLAs who belong to the dissident group in the party are spending their time in lavish five-star resorts in Hyderabad and Goa. Two or three among the 20 are supporters of the Chief Minister, and have been seen participating in parleys in Bangalore. Many villages in low-lying areas are being relocated, and in other affected villages damaged houses are being reconstructed. The Ministers and some MLAs from within this group did return to their constituencies for a day on November 1 to attend the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations, but returned to their luxury resorts. This situation is the direct outcome of the political crisis that has gripped the B.S. Yeddyurappa government in the past week.

The dissident faction leaders controlled by the Bellary Ministers-cum-mine-owners have taken their followers to resorts in order to distance them from the main group, and to build numbers in support of their demand for a leadership change.

The 17 MLAs from the flood-hit areas who are camping in resorts include Anand Asnotikar (Karwar) and Shivanagouda Naik (Deodurga) who are both ministers; B.P. Harish (Harihar), M.P. Renukacharya (Honnali), Shankara Patil (Navalgund), Chandrashekhar Mamani (Savadatti), Raju Kage (Kagwad), Sarvabhouma Bagali (Indi), S.K. Bellubbi (Basavan Bagewadi ), Kalakappa G. Bandi (Ron), Doddanagouda Patil (Hungund), Somalingappa (Siruguppa), Paranna Munavalli (Gangavathi), Eshanna Gulagannavar (Yelburga), Pratapgouda Patil (Maski), Manappa Vajjal (Lingsugur) and Raju Gowda (Surpur).

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

BJP MLAs from flood-hit parts of Karnataka bask in resorts

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu