V Somanna swings into bypoll mode even before the EC's had time to recover from the Lok Sabha elections; splurges over Rs 7 crore on a grand lunch for voters in his constituency
V Somanna swings into bypoll mode even before the EC's had time to recoveru00a0 from the Lok Sabha elections; splurges over Rs 7 crore on a grand lunch for voters in his constituency
V Somanna is celebrating his induction into the Karnataka cabinet with a Rs 7-crore party. He's not letting the fact that he hasn't yet been elected to the Assembly come in the way.
Somanna had resigned last month as the Congress MLA from Govindraj Nagar to join the BJP on chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's assurance that he would be made a minister.
The luxury lunch tomorrow (May 27) at Bangalore Palace is ostensibly a thanksgiving party for the BJP candidate's Lok Sabha victory in the constituency. But clearly, it's more about wooing the electorate ahead of the bypolls.
Somanna has drawn up a meticulous plan to impress voters. Two vehicles will go to each of the 215 booths in his constituency to bring voters to the table.
Royal treatment
"Though we are covering Bangalore (South) parliamentary constituency, the emphasis is on Govindaraja Nagar voters," sources said. "We have ensured that 90 per cent of the people are from the assembly constituency."
"Officially, 30,000 people have been invited but the number is expected to cross 50,000," said a source close to Somanna.
Big money
Somanna will have to shell out at least Rs 7 crore for the grand affair.
A meal costs Rs 1,300 and there are separate menus for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. "Liquor will be served after the lunch but is not included in the official list of items," said the source.
Most BJP leaders including Yeddyurappa are expected for the lunch which is really a show of Somanna's strength.
What's cooking?The party at Gayathri Vihar will begin at 11 am and go on till 4 pm.
The non-vegetarian menu consists of mutton biryani, ragi balls and rice. Side dishes include chicken masala, mutton manchurian, chicken tikka and chicken kebab.
The vegetarian meal will include vegetable biryani, peas pulav, rice, rasamu00a0 and three types of curry. Also on the menu: Paneer sholay kebab, gobi manchurian and mushroom manchurian.u00a0
