from our special correspondent reporting from Bajpe airport - Pics Dayanand Kukkaje - Saturday, 10-00 pm
Mangalore, Feb 18: Newly made state minister of cabinet rank Bailumeginamane Nagaraj Shetty arrived in his home district amidst a tumultuous welcome and lusty cheers, when he landed at Bajpe airport by a flight from Bangalore.
While his supporters had ensured the presence of a large crowd to exhibit his popularity, the jarring note was provided by the conspicuous absence of top party leaders of the district like MLAs Yogish Bhat and Shakuntala Shetty, district president Pratapchandra Nayak, Monappa Bhandary and others.
The only prominent party leaders to welcome were Suratkal MLA Krishna Palemar and Vittal MLA Padmanabha Kottary who kept company on either side most of the time
The only prominet leaders seen were Vittal MLA Padmanabha Kottary and Suratkal MLA J Krishna Palemar. However, Pratapchandra Nayak and Shakuntala Shetty turned up at the zilla panchayat meeting held later at the ZP office in Urwa Stores locality, where minister Shetty was to take part.
Absent at the ZP meeting was also Yogish Bhat, for long considered a likely contender for a cabinet berth. Shakuntala Shetty being the one of the only four women MLAs in the entire assembly was thought to be a natural choice for a minister's post until Thursday night. Shetty's lobby reportedly worked overnight and ensured his name being confirmed by Friday morning.
For a party which had celebrated the swearing in of party veteran B S Yediyurappa along with CM Kumaara Swaamy earlier during the month with loud bursting of crackers in the heart of the city, it was certainly not a good omen. On that occasion, party workers had distributed sweets to literally every man on the street, now find a bad taste left in the mouth.
When their own man came home as a minister for the first time, the loud clamour of supporters at the airport apart, the lack of enthusiasm was too obvious. Those limited leaders present were seen putting up a bold front and giving a 'all is well' outlook.
Much may be seen the coming days, with the dissensions and discontent being in public gaze, loud and clear.
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