Take a look at your ‘selfie’

Shyam Sundar Vattam

An admiring selfie seeker was in for a bit of a rude shock when he approached KPCC President, D.K. Shivakumar for a photograph. The Congress leader was in Maddur, attending the 139th Foundation Day of the grand old party when a worker came up from behind. Much to his astonishment, he was met with an angry outburst from D.K. Shi, whose pet peeve, it turns out, is the aggressive selfie seeker. Several unsuspecting admirers have been on the receiving end of his wrath, getting their mobile phones snatched away or being clobbered by the irritated politician. Before the surprised fan in Maddur could react, a police escort pushed him aside for daring to go near the Congress icon. Then there is CLP leader Siddaramaiah, who never disappoints a fan. He poses willingly for selfies, provided they line up properly and don’t crowd him.

Race for the hot seat

The race for the CM gaddi is packed with contenders, notwithstanding the fact that the post is currently occupied. Murgesh Nirani, the Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister, was the most recent to express, albeit indirectly, his wish to be the next CM. He didn’t say it outright but cleverly got his close pal, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa to say it for him instead.

Nirani’s attempts to replace the incumbent CM sent several others into a tizzy including, expectably enough, incumbent CM Basavaraj Bommai. Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal also slammed Nirani, saying, “If he becomes the CM, he will convert the Vidhana Soudha into…” Despite Eshu glowingly calling Nirani the future CM of the state, Yatnal, in his stinging retort, said, “The owner of a chain of sugar mills cannot be CM.”

Doc in the dock

Recently, CM Bommai, who has a troublesome knee, visited a ‘naati vaidya’ (native doctor) in Mysuru. A video of the doctor giving the CM’s knee an oil massage went viral. Unfortunately, it turned out that the ‘naati vaidya’, was actually a high school dropout with no idea how to treat bones. The government doctor who recommended the treatment has found himself red-faced. It is also believed that Bommai had acted on the advice of former deputy CM Laxman Savadi. The CM, who must have felt equally sheepish, simply said he didn’t know of the naati vaidya until he was recommended to him. As for the government doctor, he will think twice before handing out tips to politicians!