Bengaluru: A day after his candidate, Byrathi Suresh, was rejected by the Congress high command, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made his annoyance known to the party top brass by making the official nominee for Hebbal, Abdul Rehaman Sharief, wait at his residence for over two hours on Wednesday.
As if this was not enough, he sent word to Sharief junior through his aide that he would prefer to speak with former railway minister and his grandfather, Jaffer Sharief himself. Even after Mr Sharief arrived at Mr Siddaramaiah’s official residence – Cauvery – he too was made to wait for about 20 minutes and only then could they meet Mr Siddaramaiah.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that though the meeting went off smoothly it lacked cordiality. “Their meeting was like two strangers meeting for the first time. They exchanged pleasantries, but it all ended in a couple of minutes as Mr Sharief and his grandson were in a hurry to file nominations for which the last day was Wednesday,” the leader added.
According to a source, Mr Sharief appealed to Mr Siddaramaiah to campaign for his grandson. Even though Mr Sharief is pleased with the party’s decision, he restrained himself during his meeting with Mr Siddarmaiah. “Mr Sharief is not known to be a calm leader, he knows how to rub his critics on the wrong side. But at this meeting, he virtually appealed to Mr Siddaramaiah to co-operate to ensure his grandson’s victory,” the source disclosed.
Playing down the controversies surrounded his grandson’s selection as the Hebbal candidate, Jaffer Sharief said he would meet and convince Byrathi Suresh who lost out in the race, to help his grandson win the election. Speaking to reporters, Mr Sharief said, “I know Byrathi Suresh from the days he was a child. His father Subbanna was a very close associate when I represented Bengaluru North Lok Sabha seat for seven times. I will surely talk to him.”
Don’t field a Muslim: jaffer to Gowda
Firing a salvo at JD(S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda, soon after his grandson was chosen as the Congress candidate, former railway minister, Jaffer Sharief asked the former PM to prove his commitment to secularism by not fielding a Muslim candidate in Hebbal.
Mr Sharief said that the JD(S), which has fielded a Muslim candidate in Hebbal, adopts the same formula everytime to indirectly help the BJP. “It is not right on the part of JD(S), I have already requested Mr Gowda once over phone that he should help my grandson win. I am planning to meet him after the nomination is filed,” he said.
Leaders made, not born, says Rizwan Arshad
Continuing his tirade against Mr Jaffer Sharief, Youth Congress president, Rizwan Arshad remarked that Mr Sharief should know leaders are made, not born.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Arshad said, “I respect Mr Sharief’s seniority but I will not do what he had done when I contested from Bengaluru Central. I will certainly work for the party’s victory.” Mr Arshad’s reactions assumes significance in the wake of Mr Sharief declining to react to his outbursts and terming him a kid.
