Kundapur: Now, Former CM DVS Makes Vain Attempt to Coax Halady Srinivas Shetty
Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (PS)
Kundapur, Jul 28: After law minister Suresh Kumar, it was former chief minister Sadananda Gowda's turn on Saturday July 28 to sweet-talk disgruntled former Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty into remaining with the BJP. Halady had resigned from the MLA post after he was promised and then denied ministerial berth in the Shettar-led state government recently.
However, Halady was firm and reportedly said he would take a decision only after consulting his well-wishers, supporters and voters.
Gowda, accompanied by Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, visited Halady at his residence and spoke to him almost for two hours.
Speaking to reporters, Gowda said that he shares a harmonious relationship with Halady as both of them possess the same ideas. He chose to remain silent on his talks with Halady, except for saying that some good development will take place in the future, and insisting that it was just a friendly visit and had nothing to do with any other issue.
To a query on CM Jagadish Shettar, Gowda said that he has been doing a good job as all his works have been in favour of the common people. "He also succeeded in waiving the loan of farmers whose situation has been worsened due to drought," Gowda said,
On asked about his expections from the BJP regarding the party chief's post, he said that he has time and again made it clear that he was not expecting anything. "The party has given me all the important posts, whether as MLA, state BJP president, or chief minister. What more can the BJP give me? My concern is what I can do for the party. I will continue to work for the party as per the directions of the high command," he said.
On the issue of drought, he said that the state government has done a lot to ease the situation, and now it was up to the centre to take action. "The teams which came from the centre declared in the media that there was no drought in the Karnataka, and it was the state government that took all the measures to tackle the drought," he said.
Firm on my decision: Halady
Halady said that he has been firm in taking decisions, right from his college days. "Hence, I stand by my decision of quitting as MLA. As yet, I have not decided on my future in politics," he said.
He too refused to divulge the details of the two-hour talk with Gowda.
To a query on Kumarswamy’s invitation to join JD(S), he said he had not responded to it and added sarcastically that his house has five doors, hence many people keep coming and going.
Asked whose visit he was expecting next, he said he cannot predict as he has not received any 'love letter' from anyone. Though he did admit that muzrai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary had visited him, he said it was just a courtesy call.
Local leaders Sudhir Shetty, Ramesh, Sharath Shetty, Ramanna Shetty, Subhash Shetty among others were present.