BENGALURU: Amid speculation that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy skipped Valmiki Jayanti celebrations in Vidhana Soudha in the light of furore in the social media over presentation of Valmiki award to his father and JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda, social welfare minister Priyank Kharge faced the audience’s ire over absence of both the CM and deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar, resulting in removal of portraits of both leaders from a digital screen at the venue, on Wednesday.

The event drew flak on social media during the last 24 hours as the state government announced that the CM would present the Valmiki award to his father on Wednesday. Mr Deve Gowda left for London barely half an hour ahead of the event, leaving word with the organizers that the award could be presented to him at his residence on his return later this week.





Official sources said the CM was at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology for a check-up and therefore could not make it to the event.