Minister wary of new post

Renukacharya claims it's his supporters who don't want him to go to Chamrajnagar, but sources say it's the past history of the districtu00a0

Chamarajanagar, it seems, continues to be a jinx for those in power.u00a0 This time, it's M P Renukacharya, the Excise Minister, who seems to be in a dilemma, since he has to take charge of the district. Superstition looms large, as belief is that one loses power if they are given charge of this district.


Black Magic: The CM reshuffled the district ministers on Friday, and
asked Renukacharya to take charge of Chamarajnagar. File pic

Renukacharya, a Lingayat, was content to be in charge of the Hasan district, where the Lingayat population is prominent. V Somanna, another Lingayat, was eyeing the position, as he was the district in charge before he was moved to Tumkur recently.

'People like me'
"I am not superstitious, but my supporters don't want me to go to Chamarajanagar," said Renukacharya. "Moreover, people of Hasan like me for my work there. I have achieved something good there, and I want to continue my work."

However, he said he was not pressing the CM to change his decision. "I can't go against the Chief Minister's decision, but can only request him to consider people's sentiments," he added.

Somanna could prevail upon Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is also a Lingayat, thanks to his proximity to the politically powerful Lingayat pontiff Shivakumar Swamy of Siddaganga Matt.

The CM reshuffled the district ministers on Friday, and asked Renukacharya to take charge of Chamarajanagar.u00a0 Renukacharya now fears that he might lose power, say sources.

Previously, two ministers, who were in charge of Chamarajanagar, had lost power. While Haathalu Halappa had to resign after he was accused of rape, P M Narendra Swamy was disqualified as a legislator after joining hands with JD(S).

Vote bank
Sources say that Somanna wanted to field himself as a candidate in the next assembly polls, and Hasan is conducive with the good number of Lingayat voters there. His equation with the Deve Gowda family, whose influence on the district is indomitable, is also good, and sees a future for his son there.

"It seems like Renukacharya, who was in the CM's good books until he was identified with the Reddy camp last year, has earned Yeddyruppa's wrath," said a source.

Astrospeak
TM Krishnamurty, well-known astrologer said, "It's a superstitious belief, and has nothing to with astrology. Individually planetary movement decides one's fate. Loss or acquiring of power cannot be associated with a place such as Chamarajanagar district."

Other 'victims'
> Goolihatti Shekhar
Former Sports Minister
> Ramachandra Gowda
Former Minister for Medical Education