Best friend among CMs the press ever had

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 12. Mr. J.H. Patel will go down as the best friend of the press among the chief ministers and senior politicians of the State.

There was hardly an occasion when Mr. Patel dodged journalists whose numbers have swelled with the entry of television channels in a big way, nor was there an occasion of his being uncivil to them.

In fact, when he was chief minister, the doors of his official residence, "Cauvery", were always open to presspersons whatever the size and reach of their publications or channels. He was never selective as with some other political leaders. At all times he had something important or significant to convey by way of comment, observation or reaction. Whenever he returned from his numerous visits to New Delhi, Mr. Patel used to meet the press first before retiring to his private apartment. He used to be at his jocular or satirical best even at times of crisis. The political gossip was that a few ambitious journalists had joined his "kitchen cabinet".

It was also being said that Mr. Patel's free talking before the press created problems for the Government and the Janata Dal. In a way he was also bitter that the media did not highlight the achievements of his regime.

The stamp of erudition and grasp of English and Kannada literature were apparent in his public speeches. He had friends and exemplars among individuals as varied as Rammanohar Lohia, Madhu Limaye, Gopalakrishna Adiga, Beechi, Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy and the singer, P. Kalinga Rao.

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Section  : Southern States
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