Puttur MLA Ashok Rai shakes hands with his opponent Hakim Kurnadka

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Puttur : There has been an unexpected dramatic development in Puttur politics. Hakim Kurnadka, a bitter critic of MLA Ashok Rai, who had been waging a war on social media for one and a half years, has now given hands with the MLA.

This incident, which took place under the mediation of Speaker U.T. Khader, may be ended the enmity between the two, has come as a shock to the MLA’s opposition camp.

At a program held in Kurnadka, Speaker U.T. Khader was the mastermind behind the reconciliation. He tried to open the curtain on this ‘cold war’ by joining hands with Ashok Rai and Hakim Kurnadka, who were portrayed as sworn enemies in the public sphere. On stage, both the leaders shook hands while smiling. This scene has gone viral on social media.

For the past one and a half years, Hakim Kurnadka had been a constant headache for MLA Ashok Rai. The factions opposing Ashok Rai had used Hakim as a ‘weapon’ for their own agenda. The BJP had also used Hakim’s verbal arrows to subdue the MLA. BJP leaders had openly supported Hakim in a protest. Thus, Hakim, who had become a weapon in everyone’s hands, had become an ‘unswallowable morsel’ for the Congress camp.

A few days ago, Hakeem, who was furious over the deportation order that had come to him, had directly challenged him, saying, “First deport the MLA who posed with pistols, not me!” MLA Ashok Rai, who responded equally strongly to this, had warned, “I have a gun and a pen. I know very well who to teach wisdom to in which language. If I get into trouble, I will not remain silent.”

Whenever Hakim made a statement, the MLA’s supporters would rage against it on social media. Now they are confused about how to accept the situation where their leader shook hands with Hakim. “Workers should not fight on the streets for the leader, for the party, we are all one,” MLA Ashok Rai, who often says on forums, now has to become a diet for his own supporters. Overall, it remains to be seen whether this handshake is a sign of permanent friendship or just a temporary political motivation.