Picture perfect greetings on statehood day - Koda to share hoarding space with cabinet to escape embarrassment | ||
| OUR BUREAU | ||
Ranchi, Nov. 12: His government resembling a house of cards with each passing day, chief minister Madhu Koda has devised an ingenious ploy of keeping his regime picture perfect, quite literally. The chief minister wants the district administration to ensure that his ministers, too, share a picture space with him on statehood day, when around 300 kiosks, 44 hoardings and 350 banners are being installed to deck up the capital. "If we do not have the other ministers, they will make it a point to embarrass the government. That would not be good news for the government, which is replete with crisis situations," one of the officials told The Telegraph. Koda, according to sources, would figure on the maximum number of kiosks followed by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Union coal minister Shibu Soren and rail minister Lalu Prasad. But the 44 hoardings would give equal space to Koda and his ministers. The Morabadi ground, where the programme is being held, will have the cutouts of tribal icons like Birsa Munda, Neelambar-Pitambar, Sidho-Kanho. But the ministers will be giving the programme a miss, sources said. With just about two months in the seat of power, the government has nothing much to showcase on the occasion. The programme will only be about felicitating a few persons and inaugurating a few new projects. Besides, a trade fair will also be held. The ministers, meanwhile, were tightlipped on the issue, apparently leaving everything to Koda's wishes. HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey, in fact, said the kiosks should depict the state rather than any individual but water resources minister Kamlesh Singh begged to differ. There will be scope aplenty to sing and make merry, though, as the government has invited two participants of the popular television show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs to take part in the week-long cultural events. Sanchita from Calcutta, the eventual winner, and Shraddha, a participant from Jamshedpur, have confirmed their participation at the cultural function on November 21. "The duo shall be enthralling the gathering at the Udyog Mela venue," deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto said. The state government shall also honour the two singers to encourage them to perform better in the future. mahto added that the Udyog Mela has received a stupendous response from the industrial houses. "We have set up 462 stalls and barring a few, all stalls have been booked by the industrial houses, including prominent ones like Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Usha Martin, Essar Steel, Jindals etc," Mahto claimed. Ranchi deputy commissioner K.K. Soan has directed the RMC to clean up the city before the day, officials informed. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061113/asp/jamshedpur/story_6 994407.asp |
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