It was a clash of times; MLA Abhay Patil had a verbal clash with councilor Pandhari Parab at a meeting at the city corporation over the 100 crore special grant implementation. The meeting was on in the Mayors chamber to review the various works under the special grant.

Pandhari Parab attacked the MLA over the implementation of the special grant in his ward, the matter heated up, and MLA Feroz Sait had to intervene to cool the matter.

The MLA and the councilor were stopped and held by other members at the meet so that they do not hit each other.

After 15 days of tug of war between pre poll aligned Congress parties at last today Ashok Chavan will take oath and form the government. The people of Maharashtra must have been in a mind of fix as to why it took so long for pre poll aligned parties to form a government. Better late than never.

But, now what about Karnataka; where a Natak is being played starring our CM BSY and Reddy brothers and all others are on the side line. The natak is being produced by the BJP in technical collaboration with Reddy’s. Most of the Natak has been played outside state like Hyderabad, Goa and Indore where the Reddy camp is camping and our CM is busy shuttling between Bangalore and Delhi. And today in the afternoon BSY claims that the Natak will end and the crisis is over which has been settled by the central leadership. But the Reddy’s aren’t ready to go with this, they still say they are not happy with BSY and won’t cooperate with him.

For these past 10-15 days expect what work must have been done at the Vidhan Soudha. All our problems are waiting to be addressed but the biggest question to all who will answer.

The political crisis is taking a toll on flood relief work in Belgaum, where about 70,000 houses collapsed during the recent deluge. Work on rehabilitating the villagers has gone off track as all top BJP leaders in the district, which produced 11 MLAs and three MPs for the party, are engrossed in the ongoing political tussle.

At least six MLAs and two MPs have openly come out in support of Chief Minister BSY while five legislators are backing the Reddy brothers. Of the four ministers, Laxman Savadi, Basavaraj Bommai and Umesh Katti want Mr Yeddyurappa to continue as CM, while public administration minister Balachandra Jarkiholi, remains with the Reddy camp in Hyderabad. The Belgaum and Chikkodi MPs and Rajya Sabha MP Prabhakar Kore are trying to drum up support for the CM. MLA’s are not answering their phones and in this time of crisis has distanced legislators from voters at a time when they are needed here.

Suresh Angadi has proposed the name of Member of Parliament Ananth Kumar for the post of Chief Minister, dismissing Jagdish Shettar’s claim. What will be the end of this natak is not known as the script is being re worked and some final touches to the climax are being given. This natak seems to be a daily soap like the ones of Balaji telefilms(here also its starts with ‘K’ Karnataka). Everyday something is happening and the climax is getting bigger and bigger.

As viewers we are all bored of this and now have to decide on what to see and what not? Cannot we decide what we want to see; after all it’s the tax payer’s money that is funding the Natak.

What will happen keep glued to the ‘Kar-Nataka’.

Yesterday when team AAB was there to cover the much hyped MES Mahamellava it was a pleasure to see a crowd of media person from all media’s print, TV and I guess internet only AAB (which was also the fastest). It was very difficult for me to gather news from the Internet, as not all sites are very user friendly where one can get news city wise.

It is fun to read same news covered by different persons for different media houses. It is said media has to be impartial but that cant be in Belgaum at least for sure. Kannada Papers will have a pro Kannada flavor and Marathi papers, a Marathi flavor. The English media, which are trying to make its presence felt by covering local events like local papers, are somewhat neutral.
To me news is news and whatever info one can get hand should be shared with no malice towards anyone. Hope AAB is doing this. T

The digital media also covered the event massively with presence of Suvarna, Uday, ETV, TV9, IBN Lokmat, Doordarshan etc.

A gist of the Mahamellava: As there are two factions in the MES the Marathi Manoos seems to be divided as in Maharashtra with Shiv Sena and MNS. All papers report it to be a damp squib. The turnout for the event was smaller as expected by all. However, there were complaints as well that people from rural areas were not allowed to travel in trucks etc and were sent back.

If you have read Bal Thakrey’s editorial in the Samna a couple of days back he said that Marathi Manoos has stabbed him. Is this is the same here as well. Will a MNS come up here as well?

This chapter will be kept alive by the MES as Black day (Rajostav) is approaching. After this all will cool down. Until then keep reading and thinking who is correct and who is wrong. Happy reading!

Here are some excerpts from various media houses: (there could be so many more but I could get my hand only on these, if you find more add it in the comments)

The Hindu:

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/27/stories/2009102751580300.htm

http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/27/stories/2009102751560300.htm

A faction of MES did not participate and so one section of Marathi-speaking people was absent. In the area under dispute, MES wants circulars to be in Marathi. The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES)’s “melava” (gathering) turned out be a damp squib with much less than the projected number of Marathi-speaking people responding to its over a month-long campaign.

Though the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti’s ‘cultural event’ and protests by activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) passed off peacefully, miscreants pelted stones at Maharashtra state transport bus near Yamanapur, about 5 km from Belgaum city, forcing the authorities of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation to suspend its services to localities and villages dominated by Marathi-speaking people on Monday. High drama was witnessed at the circle when one of the activists climbed the traffic signal post threatening to commit suicide. However, the traffic police managed to bring him down safely.

Times of India: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Two-activists-attempt-suicide/articleshow/5165818.cms
Protesting against the government for allowing the MES to hold Marathi convention, two activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) attempted suicide at Channama Circle here on Monday. The activists were part of a rally taken out against the government for giving permission to the convention. When the rally came near the circle, activist Basavaraj Kanthimatt climbed and sat atop a traffic signal. He raised slogans against the MES and the government and threatened to commit suicide.

Kannada Prabha: http://www.kannadaprabha.com/pdf/epaper.asp?pdfdate=10/27/2009

Kannadamma: http://www.kannadamma.net/?p=1810

Deccan Chronicle:

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/mes-ignores-diktat-state-alleges-atrocities-594

Taking the district administration for a ride, Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti managed to hold its Marathi convention in the name of a cultural programme in Belgaum on Monday. Most pro-Maharashtra leaders spoke about “the atrocities” against Marathi people in Karnataka at the programme. The district administration and the police had refused to permit the Marathi convention and had agreed to the cultural programme on condition that there would be no raking up of the boundary dispute. While the MES had agreed to the conditions, the pro-Maharashtra leaders present did not seem bound by them. Marathi leader Kishore Pawar urged the Maharashtra MLAs to stage a dharna in front of Parliament to demand the merger of Marathi-dominated areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra.

“The Centre and Maharashtra should do something to solve the boundary dispute,” he said.

Deccan Herald: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/32569/mes-convention-damp-squib.html

The Chalo Subhash Maidan convention organised by Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) Kiran Thakur faction, at Subhash Ground in Tilakwadi, on Monday turned out to be a damp squib. As against the claim that over, 50,000 people would turn up, about 1,000 had gathered for the convention Virat Marathi Sanskruti Darshan (exhibition of giant Marathi culture).

Nadoj: http://nadoja.epapertoday.com/epaper/?yr=2009&mth=10&d=27

Tarun Bharat:

Even after the denial of the permission for the Marathi convention the MES is may what happen will organize an event but with little modifications. Now it is called Marathi Sanskruti Darshan which will start at 2pm.

File photo Lele ground

Retired IAS officer Dharmadhikari will speak on personality development and noted writer Balasaheb Purandhare will give a lecture on Chhatrapati Shivaji. The MES has asked all to come with Zanz, dhol, Saffron turbans and saffron sarees.

The MES has been informally given permission for this event and have been told to maintain peace at all times.

The Subhash Ground (Lele) ground is surrounded by a heavy Police Bandobast. All roads leading to the ground have been barricaded even in the morning. Police are seen everywhere in Tilakwadi and some major circles in the city as well.

The Marathi media is covering this event closely and IBN Lokmat is having a phone in every hour since the morning.

The district authorities have denied permission to the much talked about Maha Melava of MES. The MES had planned for convention of Marathi people on 26^th October at Lele Ground.

Today there were arrangements being made for the same, when the district authorities asked not to make create any structures on the ground.

Now it is left up to the MES to see how it responds to this. Last time also permission was denied for the same and Lele ground was turned into fort with heavy police presence. The same scene could be expected. Also November 1, Rajostav day and Black day for the MES is approaching and it has to be seen how the MES reacts to this.

“Chalo Subhash Maidan” is the call given by the MES (Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti) on October 26. Subhash Maidan is Lele Ground where a similar Melava was planned when the Assembly session was held in Belgaum for the first time. Well-known Marathi leaders and politicians from Maharashtra are expected to participate.

The MES has called for this particular Mahamelava or convention to keep alive the burning flame of the 53-year-old struggle of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti for merger of Marathi-majority areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra. The organizers say it is not a show of strength but for a cause of the Marathi people to come together and fight back on the atrocities made by the Karnataka Govt. MES also wants all the rights under the linguistic minorities to be adhered to by the state Govt. like all forms and other documents be given in Marathi along with Kannada.

The KRV and other Kannada organizations have criticized the govt. for giving permission for the convention at a time when North Karnataka is reeling under flood fury. The state govt. has asked that the Rajostsav be celebrated on a simple note because the flood havoc caused, the why permission has been given for this convention, asks Raj Toppannavar of KRV.

Belgaum and the border issue and such conventions and bandhs have been part of Belgaum life for 53 years now. In addition, this will go on until the Supreme Court decides on the matter.

The success of the convention will depend upon the results of the Maharashtra elections as well. If the Shiv Sena BJP combine can form a govt. one could expect huge fireworks from big leaders but if it is otherwise we could just see one or two leaders coming in.

For common Belgaumites does Marathi or Kannada matter?

Many would call this just a political stunt and others may call it struggle for their rights, always the coin has two sides, doesn’t it.

This is bad news for Belgaumites. For the past couple of years, assembly session in Belgaum was a boon to the city (some parts) by which the roads were re built, street lightening repaired and also some other beautification works of the city had taken place.

This time CM, Yedurappa had had first sighted to hold the session in Belgaum but with revolt from the administration and the opposition he has finally called it off. The chief minister disclosed that the cabinet had decided to convene the session for fifteen days in Bangalore instead of Belgaum as a session in Belgaum could affect the academic calendar.

At the previous sessions held CM had promised that one session in the New Year would be held at Belgaum. This time it will be a miss. The Suvarna Vidhan Soudha is under construction and now the ground leveling work is in progress 24by7 and the new Soudha should be ready in another 18 months and only then we could have the session here in Belgaum.

As it is written at the Vidhan soudha in Bangalore: “Government work is God’s work” we can expect the building to be ready in 2 years and till then also for a assembly session in town.

The rumors that the government may not hold the Assembly session in Belgaum indicate that BSY administration’s apathy to developing the district and this part of the state, according to the Kannada Organisation’s Action Committee (KOAC).

Former CM Kumaraswamy and then his deputy Yeddyurappa had announced that the government would hold the legislative session in Belgaum every year for at least one week, but this does not seem to be happening. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) has gone one step further to almost dare the government not to hold the session in Belgaum. The opposition says the Govt. has not fulfilled its promises made in the earlier sessions held here.

BSY said that the construction of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is in progress and the city would also play host to the World Kannada Conference.

Source: Express Buzz

This is for the first time that the border issue of Belgaum will now be played in Maharashtra. Until date, there were numerous protests and agitations were undertaken by MES in Karnataka, especially Belgaum but now it seems the Shiv Sena will hold protests in Kolhapur today on this issue.

Sena activists plan to lay siege to the DC office in Kolhapur on Tuesday. Political pundits say Sena’s decision is influenced by the coming assembly elections Maharashtra. This may spring from Sena’s 2009 Lok Sabha election manifesto promised to grant Union Territory status to Belgaum if the NDA came to power at the Centre.

Sena raising the issue in places other than Belgaum may be to gain political mileage in Maharashtra. Sena leaders from Belgaum will also join the agitation today at Kolhapur.

Source: TOI

The Deccan Chronicle has been writing about Belgaum in a bit different way. Here is one more story from their stable.

Finding no solution in the courts or elsewhere to the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karntaka, the pro-Maratha lobby in Belgaum feels it has been left with no other option but to seek divine help. A team led by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra traditionally performs the pooja at the Pandarpur jathra for the welfare of the state and its people.

 People of Maharashtra have great faith in the Pandarpur jathra and believe that Vithal Rukmai blesses them with everything they ask for. This most popular jathra is attended by lakhs of devotees every year.

“The long legal battle between the governments has not been able to resolve the boundary row. This time Vithal Rukmai will listen to our prayers,” say several pro-Maharashtra leaders here, who have conveyed their sentiments to Mr Chavan.

“There is no other option left for the government but to pray,” these Marathi leaders say.

But it now seems the dispute could place even the Gods in a dilemma. According to sources, not just Maharashtrians but also lakhs of Kannadigas will take part in the jathra for the welfare of Karnataka and their own well being.

Instead of praying to solve the border issue these politicians need to pray to God for good rains and peace & we the public should pray to God for some good sense to the politicians. 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday said that his government was open to an out-of-court settlement on the long-pending boundary dispute with Karnataka.

Mr. Chavan was speaking at the Legislative Assembly in reply to the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the state legislature; we wish to accelerate the border issue towards a settlement in this golden jubilee year of foundation of Maharashtra state he said.

Maharashtra will not tolerate injustice on the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other areas on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary. There will be no compromise on this issue he added.

Source: The Hindu

Suresh Angadi got emotional and said “People of my segment voted for me whole-heartedly. I gave around one lakh recommendation letters to people from my office. I don’t know whether letters given by me benefited them or not, but they played a major role in this victory. I had become mentally sick and lost confidence because of all controversies. But my people didn’t let me lose” – Quoted from TOI

Suresh Angadi is on overall fourth position in terms of margin of Votes in Karnataka and on 3^rd position in the BJP candidates. Devegouda is on No.1 position with a margin of 291113, followed by Pralhad Joshi of Dharwad 137663, J Swamy, HD Kumarswamy 130275 & Suresh Angadi won by 118687 votes.

Angadi secured highest votes from Arbhavi assembly constituency and lowest from Belgaum north. No doubt Angadi was able to secure his victory by a higher margin than 2004 but the number of votes casted in his favour came down from 2004. Angadi got votes from all assembly constituencies rural and urban both. But Belgaum north got him the least votes but still he managed to get more votes in that particular assembly constituency than his Congress candidate.