A song on ‘Huliya’

The people of North Kar nataka love Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, popularly known as ‘Huliya. They make it a point to offer him their native food and sweets which he tastes restraining himself as he is a diabetic. Now, a group of music buffs from Muddebihal have composed a song on Siddaramaiah and hosted it on social media which has already received 65,000 hits. This 1.5 minute long song has been sung in typical north Karnataka style. The background music too resembles N-K style.

One of the songs dedicated to their ‘beloved leader’ thanks him for providing welfare schemes like ‘Anna Bhagya’ to fill the belly of the hungry. It’s quite difficult to comprehend the lyrics unless you follow the rustic Kannada spoken in the region.

It is not sure if ‘Huliya’ has heard the song yet. If he has, he would have said ‘Huh’ Chennagaithe (wow, beautiful). The ageing leader no doubt commands respect across the state in true pan-Karnataka style.

Bitter truth
What a.re the qualifications required to become Chief Minister of Karnataka? According to senior BJP leader and Vijayapura MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, one needs to have a minimum of Rs 2,500 crore to occupy the CM Gaddi!

After many years, the Karnataka Assembly saw an interesting debate on the electoral system with lawmakers from all parties eloquently speaking on their pet subject. Yatnal too spoke and his remark that one had to be a ‘money bag’ to be CM, was a barb intended for Large & Medium Scale industries Minister Murgesh Nirani who is a strong contender for the CM post. Continuing in the same vein, Yatnal said to make Rs 2500 crore and ‘regain’ the investment, there was no option for the CM but to become corrupt. A vicious circle with no space for honest politicians indeed!

Secrets of Mangalarathi
People might have seen the emergence of the Mangalarathi tatte (a platter used to do arathi to god) quite often during the campaign by politicians. Five to six women can be seen ready with the tatte to perform Arathi to candidates who visit their locality for the campaign.

BJP’s veteran leader, Basangouda Patil Yatnal spoke of his personal experience with the arathi tatte during his campaign for the Assembly polls.

“I was surprised to see women standing with the steel platter with the Diya on it. As soon as I passed through the particular street, they started performing arathi to me and put a tilak on my forehead.

I assumed it was an honour to me but then someone whispered to me that I had to put two crispy Rs 500 notes in the platter. I was quite taken aback on hearing this. I don’t blame them as they assume all politicians make money through illegal means and God won’t punish them if they take a bit of it from him!’’