Gowda to 'see no evil' on maiden New Delhi visit

Gowda will stay in the plush CM’s suite in the newly constructed Karnataka Bhavan annexe. His aides have begun shifting his personal effects from his old residence - the MP's quarters on nearby South Avenue - while his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa’s personal belongings have been moved out to his son and MP B Y Raghavendra’s residence, also on the same road.

The opulent CM’s suite having bullet proof windows and a swing which was inaugurated by Yeddyurappa only in August 2010, is getting refurbished. Believers of astrology and Vastu are murmuring that the suite is not according to Vastu as it has toilets on two sides and kitchen in the wrong place. They believe that this was also a reason for the downfall of Yeddyurappa.

“To ward off any evil, we have arranged a pooja,” said a Karnataka Bhavan official, adding that the CM would take part in it. Gowda has already occupied ‘Anugraha’, the official residence of the CM in Bangalore, which was abandoned by many of his predecessors fearing bad omen, after a lengthy pooja by many priests on Friday last, the day after he was sworn into office.

Gowda, will have a power packed schedule during his two-day stay in Delhi as his aides are seeking appointments with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to make his visit fruitful. This is besides his meeting with BJP top brass, including L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely and Rajnath Singh.

For the CM, identified with Yeddyurappa’s group, a pep talk is awaiting him as the top leaders of the party will advice him to focus on administration to salvage the dented image of the party in the state due to the scandal-ridden regime of Yeddyurappa.

Sources said though Gowda had planned to visit Delhi soon after swearing in, it was spiked by the high command as they wanted him to come only after formation of a full-fledged cabinet.

Kolar MLA seeks Cabinet berth
Soon after the induction of 21 ministers into the first Cabinet of the D V Sadananda Gowda-led government in the State on Monday, Kolar MLA Varthur Prakash, an aspirant for ministerial berth, approached the BJP national leadership, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

Prakash met leaders, including its president Nitin Gadkari and Arun Jaitley and pleaded his case. Prakash, who elected as independent MLA, had joined the BJP and voted in favour of the then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa government during the crucial second trust vote in October 2010.