To eat or not to eat 'Naati koli'! CM Siddaramaiah, R Ashoka's lively banter on country chicken

Belagavi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka were engaged in a lively banter on Monday over the topic of Naati koli (country chicken) at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.

The banter began when Siddaramaiah casually asked Ashoka why he had lost weight. “I have given up eating naati koli, sir,” Ashoka replied.

“You shouldn't give it up. You need to eat, I say,” the CM quipped, to which Ashoka said: “If I do, they will club me with you.”

Ashoka’s comments were a veiled reference to the chief minister’s breakfast meeting with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on December 02 at the latter’s residence, where he took idli with naati koli sambar.

After the breakfast, Ashoka had taken offence to Siddaramaiah consuming non-veg on Hanuma Jayanti.