Krishna drives to Kharge's house

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, SEPT. 17. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, called on the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, at his official residence this morning, giving room for political inferences.

It is stated that the Chief Minister drove his personal car himself, accompanied by his grandchildren, and held talks with Mr. Kharge at the latter's ``Race View Cottage''.

There was talk in Congress circles that Mr. Kharge was unhappy over the transfer of some police officers and also over the demand for his resignation voiced by some dalit organisations in connection with the parading in the nude of a dalit woman in a Vanenur village in Bellary District.

It is not forgotten that Mr. Kharge had pitched his claim for the chief ministership in October 1999 after the Congress was voted to power. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the last Assembly.

The unusual aspect in the visit of the Chief Minister is that it is the normal practice for Cabinet ministers (not to speak of the junior ones), to call on the Chief Minister who is regarded as the first among equals in the Cabinet.

Some months ago, Mr. Krishna and some of his ministers had visited the KPCC President, Mr. Allum Veerabhadrappa, at his residence though, at that time, he was still the minister of State for Horticulture. No doubt, it was in recognition of the supremacy of the party President in matters relating to the organisation.

In the past, when the Congress was in power, there were complaints that the chief minister of the day was not accessible even to his ministers. In one much talked about instance, a chief minister ignored a number of his ministers who were waiting for his arrival and went straight to a liquor baron and talked to him animatedly.

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Section  : Southern States
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