Udupi: Native District Extends Rousing Welcome to Minister Poojary
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Jul 17: After paying his maiden visit as member of the new Shettar government to Mangalore on Tuesday July 17, muzrai minister visited his home town in Udupi where he was accorded a warm welcome by the jubilant BJP leaders and party workers. Poojary is also the district in-charge miniser of Udupi.
He along with newly-elected member of legislative council Monappa Bhandary were felicitated at a programme at Kidiyoor Sheshadri hall by the local leaders.
Addressing the gathering, he thanked his supporters for according him such a hearty welcome and said that he was made a minister without even trying for it.
"I was a member of gram panchayat when I first entered politics, and then I became taluk panchayat member, and now I am a minister. All my life, I had never met a national leader, and whatever I do, I shall follow in the footsteps of state BJP leaders," he said.
He further said, "I was in Bangalore on the oath-taking day to support Halady Srinivas Shetty. However, state BJP chief (and now deputy CM) Eshwarappa called me aside and said that I had been named minister. I was not ready for it," he said.
"A little later Ananth Kumar called me and asked me to be prepared to accept the ministerial berth. But I was still not sure. As a last step, the BJP leaders summoned Capt Ganesh Karnik and told him to talk to me and finalize things," he said, "Hence, the ministry came to me without any influence. I didn't have my family with me in Bangalore. Nevertheless, I am very happy with what I have got."
"I will definitely try and follow in the footsteps of the late Dr V S Acharya," he pledged.
MLA Raghupati Bhat spoke of Poojary as an example of BJP's integrity and said that Poojary had emerged as a minister from a humble beginning. "He was a member of the gram panchayat, and now he is a minister. Such things can happen only in BJP," he said.
He further added, "The late Dr V S Acharya's dreams and hopes for Udupi district will be fulfilled by Poojary. He may even surpass Dr Acharya in his works and achieve great heights. BJP will give full support to him."
Chairman of the third finance commission task force A G Kodgi said that Dr Acharya's soul would be at peace now that a capable man has succeed him. Poojary is the perfect replacement for Dr Acharya, he said.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that nowadays the media is highlighting only the internal politics in BJP, but not the good side. "An ordinary person has become a minister, which will not happen in any other party," he said.
"It proves that it doesn't take money to become ministers. BJP doesn not look at caste, creed or money. Those who are committed will be recognized," he added.
Katpady Shankar Poojary welcomed.
BJP leaders Kiran Kumar, Udayakumar Shetty, Lalaji Mendon, Yashpal Suvarna, Capt Ganesh Karnik, Sulochana G K Bhat and many others were present.
Speaking on the sidelines to the media, Kota Srinivas Poojary said that he will ensure cleanliness in temples and work hard to finish the pending projects begun by the late Dr V S Acharya.
When asked to comment on the resignation of Halady Srinivas Shetty who was denied cabinet berth at the last moment, he said that the BJP party had tried everything possible to stop him from resigning. "Being a BJP member, it is my wish to that he stays," he said.
When asked why Halady was not with him in the felicitation programme, he said that Halady was in Bangalore, and would have joined him if he had time.
Poojary also visited Katapady and Sri Krishna temples.
Kaup
Inchara - Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RD)
Udupi, Jul 17: Kaup block BJP offered a grand welcome to newly-appointed state minister for religious endowment, ports, and hinterland transport, Udupi district-in-charge Kota Srinivas Poojary, when he arrived at Hejamady, near Kaup, on Tuesday July 17.
Addressing party activists, minister Poojary said that the challenge is for him to achieve integral development of Udupi district. He added that he is committed to strengthening the party.
Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon. ZP president Katpady Shankar Poojary, local BJP leaders Ratnakar Shetty, Kutyar Naveen Shetty, Ravindra Shetty Kollabettu, Vijay Karkera, Arun Shetty, Naveen Amin Shankarapura, Shivaprasad Shetty, Padoor Geethanjali Suvarna, Arun Shetty Padoor, and Jagdish Acharya were present.
He also visited Vishwanta temple, Katpady, and assured the temple authorities of alloting state funds for the development work.