Deputy CM Shivakumar spends quiet birthday in Nagarahole, says GBA elections soon

MYSURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar spent a quiet 63rd birthday going on a safari with his family members at Dammanakatte in the Nagarahole tiger reserve. The family also went on a boat ride and spotted several wild animals.

The family stayed at The Serai resort and Shivakumar spent his birthday away from politics. Sources said the family stayed at the resort for three days and on Friday, the Deputy CM headed to Ballari for a Congress event from the Mysuru airport.

Speaking to media persons in Mysuru, Shivakumar said, “This year, I did not celebrate my birthday and I had even told our partymen not to have any celebrations. I spent a quiet three days with my family in the Kabini forest”. To a question on whether he will get a bigger post, he made a thumbs up sign and said, “With your blessings”.

“The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be limited to the present jurisdiction and new layouts will not be added to it”. On elections to the Bengaluru civic body, he said, “We will hold it soon and decide on the dates in the next 3-4 days. There is no point in delaying the elections. We will call an all-party meeting soon”.

Responding to BJP leader R Ashoka’s remarks that the GBA is ‘quarter Bengaluru’, the Deputy CM said, “Let him say quarter or full, we are not bothered. Being an opposition party, they have to do it”. “The BJP supported the GBA in the Assembly and now they are passing comments. Ashoka is also a part of Bengaluru and we will take their suggestions again”, Shivakumar said.

He also said there has been no delay in renaming Ramanagara as Bengaluru South. “We are waiting for an auspicious time and that will come soon”, he said.