CM arrives in M’luru, proceeds to Udupi to inaugurate World Bunts Conference

Mangaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was accorded a cordial welcome at Mangaluru International Airport here on Saturday, October 28.

The Chief Minister proceeded to Udupi where he will inaugurate the World Bunts Conference being held at Ajjarakad Grounds, Udupi.

Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar accompanied the Chief Minister. MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, district Congress president Harish Kumar, former ministers Ramanath Rai, Abhayachandra Jain, prominent leaders Ivan D’Souza, J R Lobo, Shakuntala Shetty, and others welcomed him at the airport.

Board chairman appointments soon

Talking to reporters after his arrival, Siddaramaiah said that the long-pending appointment of the chairman of corporations and boards will be done soon. MLAs will be considered for the posts on first priority, then party workers, he said.

To a query about the dinner hosted by Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah said it was a regular dinner without any politics involved. “I and some ministers were invited by Parameshwar for dinner. There was no politics there,” he said and added that no other meaning should be derived from it.

On the Sowjanya murder investigation issue, the CM said that the ball was in the Central government’s court as the CBI has already investigated the matter.

“Harish Poonja is still a Bachcha”

Siddaramiah called Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, who dubbed the CM as “Collection Minister”, as a “bachcha” (a kid).  “I became an MLA in 1983 and then a minister. Harish Poonja is still a bachcha,” he added.