Drive and inaugurate

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Taking cue from Vijayapura MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, who dived into the newly-built swimming pool to mark its inauguration, Ullal Congress MLA U.T. Khader inaugurated the newly-started KSRTC bus service to several villages in his constituency, by driving the bus.

The villagers of Pajeru have been demanding the bus service to their village for many years, and it became a reality only recently. As per the protocol, they had invited local MLA Khader to inaugurate the service. Instead of merely cutting the ribbon, the MLA jumped into the driver’s seat and drove the first trip till the final destination. KSRTC officials also got into the bus and appreciated Khader for his driving skills.

In the 1990s, the then Transport Minister Azeez Sait had opened the newly-opened Kuvempunagar Bus Depot by driving a bus around the bus depot. A car racing enthusiast, Sait used to cover 140 plus km between Mysuru and Bengaluru within one and a half hours. He used to make his driver sit in the passenger seat and take charge of the wheels. The netas know that during inaugurations, following the beaten track of ribbon cutting will not fetch any mileage in terms of publicity.

Lucky, Ms Bommai
There are two types of politicians. Those who take their spouses for every function and those who don’t like to take their wives to any function - official or public.

The incumbent Chief Minister, Basavaraja Bommai, does not take his wife to any function unless it is personal. But he would definitely buy a sari for her whenever he is called to inaugurate exhibitions. He would spend a couple of minutes at a sari stall, pick one for his wife and promptly pay for it. No one knows whether Ms CM is pleased with her husband’s choices.

Knowing about his penchant for buying saris, most textile exhibitors make it a point to invite the CM for inaugurations.

Lost spectacles
Congress leader Siddaramaiah is known for misplacing things, especially his spectacles, which he keeps losing during public or private functions. For this reason, he never carries his mobile phone with him and entrusts it with his personal secretary. The kuruba leader, however, cannot do the same with regard to spectacles, as he can hardly see anything without them.

Two days ago, he went to Deodurga taluk of Raichur district to attend the marriage of a relative, he lost his glasses. After blessing the newly-wedded couple, Siddaramaiah realised that his spectacles were not there in his pocket. He told local leaders that he cannot see anything without glasses, including his shoes. A Congress worker helped Siddaramaiah wear his shoes and he posed for a picture without glasses. He then left the place without finding his spectacles.