BENGALURU: Energy minister D.K. Shivakumar undoubtedly has powerful connections in his party and the government, but the one which he would like to work most has let him down for the second time in recent months.
On Wednesday, just as he was explaining to the media with the help of a map that the state was not reeling under unscheduled load shedding, power supply to Vidhana Soudha snapped! Quick on the take, journalists asked the minister whether it was "automatic load shedding?" but this embarrassed politician merely smiled and moved on to address other issues.
Mr Shivakumar had to squirm in discomfiture when power supply to Vidhana Soudha snapped just as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah commenced reading his budget speech in the Legislative Assembly two months ago. The security staff helped Mr Siddaramaiah read the budget speech with the help of a torch light as darkness enveloped the House prompting jeers from Opposition benches. Such "power" disruptions could spell trouble for Mr Shivakumar at a time when he has entered the race for KPCC president's chair.
