Ka Pu Siddalingaswamy
On the occasion of Basava Jayanthi, with City's billboard space was taken by ugly flex boards of leaders, there was one prominent face that overshadowed all, except that of Yeddyurappa's. That visage belonged to Ka Pu Siddalingaswamy, the chief minister's personal assistant.
At the event attended by thousands at the Kalamandira here, Ka Pu - as he is popularly known - was generous enough to distribute a gold plated panchaloha idol of 'nandi' (sacred bull), and a bag consisting of a water bottle and a laddu to all participants.
Bigger gifts
The VIPs on the dais, of course received bigger gifts. Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra honoured the VIPs with shawls donated by Ka Pu, while the chief minister presented them with a memento, also donated by, you guessed it right!
Hijack!
For a moment, it felt like a private party had hijacked the event, although it was the district administration had organised Basava Jayanthi in association with Basava Balaga and Veerashaiva associations.
The bag of goodies from the personal assistant to the chief minister carried the legend Ka Pu Siddalingaswamy, samaja sevakaru (social worker) and Ka Pu Siddaveerappa, ZP member and Chetan Traders, Mysore. Siddaveerappa, brother of the chief minister's Man Friday, was elected unopposed in the ZP elections.
Costly event
Sources told Deccan Herald that Siddalingaswamy had taken upon himself the responsibility of organising the event, at an enormous cost. But perhaps the man sees it as an investment, since he is widely tipped to be the BJP candidate in Varuna against the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, no less.
Busy as a bee!
With that objective in view, Siddalingaswamy has been very busy indeed in the district.He recently sponsored the Dr Rajkumar Memorial State-level cricket tourney, which was inaugurated by none other than B S Yeddyurappa and Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje. He has been busy getting temples renovated in the district.
