Yeddyurappa shows some mercy to BJP, supporters will go to work today

New Delhi:  BS Yeddyurappa delivered a very embarrassing day on Tuesday for his party, the BJP, which runs the government in Karnataka. Less than half of the BJP's representatives attended the first day of the Budget session in the Karnataka assembly. Most stayed at a five-star resort on the outskirts of Bangalore. They are being hosted there by Mr Yeddyurappa who wants to be renamed chief minister.
However, negotiations with his party's central leadership seem to be working. Mr Yeddyurappa has reportedly promised that his camp will show up at work today, where DV Sadananda Gowda, the current chief minister, is scheduled to present the budget. Mr Gowda had been hand-picked by Mr Yeddyurappa in July last year when he was forced to quit office on corruption charges. Last week, a court dismissed those charges, triggering Mr Yeddyurappa's aggressive campaign to return to office.

Mr Yeddyurappa's camp has indicating that Mr Gowda will be allowed to present the budget,  but it is important that the party presents a united front in the Assembly. 

On Monday, BJP president Nitin Gadkari requested Mr Yeddyurappa to be patient and "not to do anything that will hurt the BJP." In addition to the rebel leader's ability to split the party, the dispute has caste overtones as well. Mr Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, chose a Vokkaliga to replace him. Both are dominant communities in the state - and the BJP is in a bind now in case they have alienated the Lingayat vote bank. Would one time Yeddyurappa foe turned ally, Jagadish Shettar, another Lingayat, be a potential Chief Ministerial choice that would satisfy Yeddyurappa if he is given the chair himself? And how would the Vokkaliga community react to a Chief Minister from their community being dumped on the demands of the volatile Mr Yeddyurappa? Elections to the state assembly are due in 2013.

Mr Yeddyurappa's group, in a further act of defiance, even put forward a candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, BJ Puttaswamy. Mr Puttaswamy was promptly suspended from the party for filing his nomination -and notices were issued to the 10 MLAs who nominated him.

For NDTV Updates, follow us on Twitter or join us on Facebook

View the original article here

Ekta Kapoor: 'No reality shows for me!'

By Hindustan Times

NEW DELHI, March 13 -- After 18 years in the industry, and producing over 50 TV shows, producer Ekta Kapoor says that she doesn't want to re-enter the realm of reality shows, despite rumours that she is planning one with a leading channel.

Ekta's earlier ventures into reality TV, Kabhi Kabhii Pyaar Kabhi Kabhii Yaar (Sony Entertainment) and Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket (9X), attracted more criticism than accolades. "We put too much drama into these shows, and even today, regardless of what anyone says, I'm proud of them!"

Ekta says. "We took baby steps into the reality show scene with these two shows. Today, I know that I can do better, but I am content narrating stories about the common man in my movies and TV shows. The audience connects with them better, and that is what matters," adds the 36-year-old.

Ask her about recent rumours doing the rounds, about her launching a third reality show, and she says, "Producing a reality show takes a certain kind of expertise and I don't think I have it right now. In the midst of my ongoing projects, I don't have time to run through new formats, and think about how to execute them."

Ekta is currently on a high after actor Vidya Balan won a National Award for her Award for her performance in the the film The Dirty Picture, that Ekta produced. "It proves that the human side of any story, combined with an actor's honest effort, can make or break a project," she says.

View the original article here

No reality shows for me: Ekta Kapoor

By Hindustan Times

After 18 years and over 50 TV shows, producer Ekta Kapoor is clear she doesn’t intend to re-enter the reality show scene ever again, despite rumours that she is planning one with a leading channel. Her only two reality shows, Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Kabhi Kabhi Yaar (Sony Entertainment) and Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket (9X), got her more brickbats than bouquets.

“We put too much drama into these shows, and even today, regardless of what anyone says, I’m proud of them!” she says. “We took baby steps into the reality show scene with these two shows. Today, I know that I can do better but I am content narrating stories about the common man in my movies and TV shows. The audience connects with them better and that is what matters.”
Prod her on the recent rumours that she is launching a third reality show, and Ekta says, “Producing a reality show takes a certain kind of expertise and I don’t think I have it right now. In the midst of my on-going projects, I have no time to run through new formats and think about how to execute them.”

Bade Acchhe Lagte HainThe 36-year-old producer is currently on a high after actor Vidya Balan won a National Award for her performance in The Dirty Picture. “It proves that the human side of any story, combined with an actor’s honest effort, can make or break a project,” says Ekta, who has four Hindi daily soaps on air just now, each revolving around the ‘aam aadmi’ (common man), which is a shift from her large-canvas shows in the past.

Parichay airs on Colors, Bade Acche Lagte Hain and Kya Hua Terra Vaada on Sony and Pavitra Rishta on Zee TV. “Once in a while, we all borrow ideas from popular movies or real life incidents, and play them up in a way to bring in the audience,” she says.

Sameer Soni’s character, Kunal, in Parichay, recently won a court case against Richa (Mona Vasu) after she accused him of rape, unmasking her as the real culprit. The twist reminds you of the Akshay Kumar-Priyanka Chopra starrer Aitraaz.

“The track was my creative team’s idea in the context of the rampant gender bias in society today. If a woman accuses a man of rape, she is easily believed but if the tables are turned, the plea falls on deaf ears. This twist was one of the best ways of highlighting the imbalance that has been sparking off newspaper headlines lately,” she reasons . “This twist also takes Kunal and Siddhi’s love story forward, making their characters more believable.”

View the original article here