Mangalore: Yeddy-Eshwarappa Clash: BJP High Command to Step in, says DVS
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jan 4: Chief minister Sadananda Gowda, who landed at Bajpe airport at 8.15 am on Wednesday January 4, told reporters that the central BJP high command will intervene to solve the clash over leadership issue between former chief minister Yeddyurappa and state BJP chief Eshwarappa.
Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa have been involved in verbal duel in the past few days, with the latter accusing Eshwarappa of consipiring to throw him out of the party. Eshwarappa and Sadananda Gowda had in fact met central BJP leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh to discuss the issue in New Delhi.
"Steps have already been taken to broker peace between the two leaders," he added. On energy minister Shobha Karandlaje's recent visit to New Delhi, he shrugged off the matter and said that it was a casual visit and she went because the high command had called her.
Further, DVS said that the assembly session would begin from January 30 and would last for 10 days, during which all developmental works in the state would be discussed.
The budget session will take place in the first week of March, he added.
On the issue of pending road development works, he said that work could not be taken up due to incessant rains, but will be continued and finished within 15 days.
About the stone-pelting incident in Sullia that resulted in a clash between policemen and BJP activists, he said that the government will not intervene, and that DGP-IG Shankar Bidari and ADGP Bipin Gopalkrishna are investigating the matter and will take suitable action.
The CM will take part in the Coastal Development Summit being held in the city on Wednesday.
National Youth Festival
Sadananda Gowda also spoke to the media before and after the inspection of the arrangements for the upcoming National Youth Festival that will be inaugurated in Mangalore on January 12.
He said that it will be first time that Mangalore would be hosting such an event, and assured that all arrangements have been made. "It will be conducted smoothly and successfully," he said.
He also said that schools and colleges will be given holiday during the festival if required, and transport would be arranged to ferry them to the venue. Also, arrangements will be made to take visiting participants to tourists sports in and around the district, he added.
All sanitary and security arrangements are in place, he said, and when asked if there was any opposition to the festival he said that everybody has been cooperating fully and working unitedly towards the success of the festival.
He added that the decision to grant the rights to host the event was given to Mangalore at meeting held in New Delhi, in which Veerappa Moily too had participated.
"The central government has provided Rs 2 crore as per stipulations, and the state government has put in Rs 10 crore. Hence, the fesival will be organised at a total cost of Rs 12 crore."
The festival is being held to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, he said, and called upon all the people's representatives, officials and the public in general to support and participate in the festival.
"Let us showcase the richness of our city with pride," he urged.
He also instructed the MCC mayor to get all the roads in the city repaired quickly. "I observed that some of the roads in the city are in bad condition, with interlocks coming off in many of the places. All these need to be repaired in time," he added.
He also spoke on other development issues, and said that the government has released a total of Rs 100 crore for the developemental works in the city, out of which Rs 66.5 crore were released in the second phase.
"Also, Rs 12 crore has been released for the construction of the footbridge between Tannirbavi and Sultan Battery, and Rs 22 crore for Malavoor drinking water project," he said.