1) Constituency layout reconstruction : minimum 30 feet roads within area. 50 feet main road

Identify and reconstruction of all slums and small houses area. Build big spacious flats, min 3bhk by private builder for people who looses their land. So that living standards all areas in the constituency will be same eg: like Jaynagar in Bangalore.

2) Free amenities in each area : Modern school and college, Hitech Hospital, Library, swimming pool, park, play ground.

3) One research center to identify problems in the constituency and come up with solutions.

4) Any kind of government undertaking sector in each constituency to provide employment. Eg. Software company in constituency and Garments in another constituency. All companies should run like a private sector.

Please share your opinion and other suggestions you need in your constituency.

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI : The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of Covid-19 a pandemic on Wednesday, on a day the virus was suspected to have claimed its first life in India—that of a 76-year-old man in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, who died late on Tuesday with symptoms like breathlessness, cold and cough.

A pandemic is an occurrence of a disease that affects many people over a very wide area.

“We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, noting there are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths.

“We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that Covid-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," he told a news conference.

“All countries can still change the course of this pandemic...if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response," he added.

The global agency’s stark warning came hours after the Karnataka government announced India’s first suspected death from the pandemic. However, the cause of death is yet to be confirmed by the National Institute of Virology, whose report is expected on Thursday. The Union health ministry gave no confirmation.

The central government on Wednesday suspended visas of all foreign nationals with effect from 13 March till 15 April as 10 new cases of Covid-19 infection were reported, taking the nationwide toll to 60. The bulk of the patients reported on Wednesday came from Kerala, where eight new cases took the state’s total to 17. They include three who have made a recovery.

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The Congress party on Wednesday named D.K. Shivakumar as the president of its Karnataka unit, three months after Dinesh Gundu Rao quit the post in the wake of the party’s poor showing in the December by-elections.

“Honourable Congress President has appointed PCC President and working presidents for Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)," K.C.Venugopal, general secretary (organisation), said in a statement on Wednesday.

Shivakumar takes over at a time when the Congress is struggling to keep its flock together after successive election defeats and internal power struggles under various factions. “No power or no centre. I have made it clear that I worship the party, not some personality and will abide by this," Shivakumar said on Wednesday.

The party high command has retained Siddaramaiah as leader of the Opposition and Congress legislature party leader. The two leaders are known to nurse some mutual animosity, and Shivakumar’s appointment is seen as a way of managing expectations, clipping growing factionalism and balancing caste equations to give the Congress a fighting chance against the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka.

Retaining Siddaramaiah also shows that the Congress has few options to replace the Kuruba leader, who has been given repeated chances even after leading the party to three major election defeats. The party has also overlooked allegations that he had destabilized the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.

Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, has been in wait to take over the reins of the state unit to help end growing factionalism that led to three back-to-back election losses.

The party also named three working presidents for greater community and regional representation. Sugar baron, Satish Jarkiholi and Saleem Ahmed have been named working presidents along with Eshwar Khandre, who was already serving in this post.

Apart from Karnataka, the Congress on Wednesday announced organizational changes in Delhi appointing former MLA Anil Chaudhary as state unit chief, as well as five vice presidents.

The party had failed to open its account in two sets of Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the last six years and in the recently-concluded Delhi polls, its vote share halved to just 4.27%.

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Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who also holds the finance portfolio in the state government, on Thursday presented a constrained budget of nearly ₹2.38 trillion with barely any intervention to revive falling economic growth.

The state budget, presented amid political uncertainty and reduced fund inflows from the Centre, painted a gloomy economic picture. It registered an increase of ₹11,268 crore or 4.92% compared to the revised estimates of about ₹2.26 trillion of the budget presented by the previous coalition government last fiscal.

The marginal budgetary allocations, which are a result of the prevalent fund crunch, are likely to trigger a downward slide in fortunes for one of India’s best performing states, which has already witnessed a degrowth in gross state domestic product (GSDP) from 7.8% in 2018-19 to 6.8% in 2019-20.

A further slide in Karnataka’s GSDP is likely to weigh on national growth and the country’s uphill climb to beat sluggish economic conditions and the slowdown as the state is one of the biggest contributors to the Centre’s coffers.

“As you know there is a slowdown in the entire country and there has been an impact on Karnataka as well," said Yediyurappa, while presenting his seventh budget.

The chief minister now aims to raise taxes on petroleum products and also increase excise and motor vehicle taxes. However, this could further hurt the rural economy, which is reeling under a prolonged lull in agricultural activity and is still to recover from last year’s floods.

Yediyurappa’s troubles have been exacerbated by the shortage of funds that has stymied efforts to stimulate growth in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s problems have been growing as a section within the party has intensified its demand to replace the 77-year-old chief minister. This comes amid reports of a widening rift between Yediyurappa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central party leadership led by Union home minister Amit Shah.

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Karnataka chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Sunday said portfolios of newly inducted ministers will be announced on Monday, an exercise in managing the expectations of existing ministers, new entrants and those awaiting their turn.

“Umesh Katti will be made a minister," Yediyurappa reiterated on Sunday, hoping to soothe the senior leader whose name was dropped a day before last week’s expansion.

Katti and two others were dropped following discontent about ignoring senior leaders, and the priority given to Belagavi and Bengaluru in the cabinet while neglecting other parts like Kalyana-Karnataka, coastal districts and the south.

“We were assured and even confirmed the ministry we asked for before we resigned (last July). We will have to see if the same will be given," said a legislator, who was among the 17 who had resigned and was made a cabinet minister on Thursday.

Though Yediyurappa has largely kept his word to those who helped him to power, he would have to manage expectations on previously demanded portfolios or risk upsetting the older legislators and the 17 existing ministers.

Ministries in high demand include home, irrigation, urban development and public works department. The Bengaluru development ministry is one of the most sought-after portfolios. The portfolio was previously held by the chief minister.

The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was involved only in the cabinet expansion and not portfolio allocation, leaving Yediyurappa with the responsibility and risks that come with the exercise.

“Naturally, there will be some lobbying to get a good ministry," said a minister and senior BJP leader, requesting not to be named.

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Bengaluru: The long pending suburban railway project in Bangalore will be taken up on priority. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the rail project will be completed in three years. "The approximate cost of the project is ₹18,600 crore. It will be shared in the ratio of 20% by the State, 20% by the Centre and rest will be taken as institutional loan. The project will be dedicated to the nation in the next three years," News agency PTI quoted the Karnataka CM as saying.

After Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Secunderabad, Bangalore will become the latest city to have its own suburban rail network.This will give ease to commuters across the city and give a much needed boost to country's overcrowded IT capital. According to a report by TomTom, Bangalore beat 415 other cities across 57 countries to earn the title of having the worst traffic situation in 2019.

Presenting the longest Union Budget till date, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a formal announcement, and committed to 20% of equity contribution. Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for incorporating the project in the Union Budget, Yediyurappa said under this project, suburban railway stations will come up at 57 prominent places in Bengaluru.

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By winning 12 out 15 bypoll seats, 76-year old chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finally brought some stability to the over four-month old government. The bypoll victory and ensuing stability putting to rest any imminent threats of dissent against Yediyurappa that added to fears of continuing the already prolonged period of political uncertainty in Karnataka.

Even though the victory of the defectors itself raises questions on political morality, the vote was perceived to be in favour of stability and the hope of getting some or any governance. Especially after the floods that has left a trail of destruction in calamity-prone Karnataka.

In an interview, Yediyurappa spoke about the factors that helped BJP win 12 seats, his priorities going forward and on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Edited excerpts:

What is Karnataka’s stand on National Register of Citizens (NRC) and CAA?

We welcome CAA and we will implement it. Everyone has cooperated except for some states. Any decision of the centre (including NRC) is our decision as well.

Did you expect to win 12 out 15 seats in the bypolls?

I have been saying this from the beginning, but the opposition took us lightly and asked people not to give us a majority. Leads of 30,000-45,000 votes are very rare in bypolls. People have supported us beyond our expectations. There was only confusion during Congress-Janata Dal (S) rule and they did nothing for development. People were aware of the good work I did during floods and thought I should compete my term.

With the victory, is it safe to assume that dissent against you within the party has ended?

There was never any dissent. Our state president has given us full cooperation. Only because we worked as a tight knit, strong organization were we able to win 12 seats. This is not just Yediyurappa’s effort.

How did you manage to win K.R.Pete and Chikballapur?

So far, we could not open our account in these districts and there was a special effort by Vijayendra (Yediyurappa’s younger son), who camped there for over 25 days. His effort, the compassion for Narayana Gowda (BJP candidate from K.R.Pete) and the team work paid off. There was talk that we did not have the support of the Gowda’s (Vokkaligas) but we received the support of all communities and our base has increased. Kurubas, Vokkaligas and others have won from our party and will now become ministers.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused states which have not implemented Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) of doing "politics" and said such political mindset has hurt farmers for a long time.

Addressing a public gathering here, Modi said efforts were being made to identify specific products from every block and district and add to its value.

He said distinct identity of these products will ensure an increase in their export value.

"I hope that in the New Year, all the states that have not implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana will do it. I hope they rise over politics to help the farmers in their states. This political mindset has hurt the benefits of farmers for a long time," he said.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, income support of ₹6,000 per year is provided to the farmer families in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each every four months.

"Today, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, money has been deposited in the account of the eighth crore farmer. Also, today in this programme, a total of ₹12,000 crore has been deposited in the account of six crore farmer families across the country," Modi said.

"There was a time in this country when a major part of the money sent for the poor people by the government was eaten up by the middlemen. Today, all the money is being directly transferred to the bank accounts of the poor and farmers," he added.

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Voters in Karnataka handed a decisive mandate to help stabilise the four-month old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by B.S.Yediyurappa, over contentions of political morality as it registered victory in 12 out of the total 15 constituencies in the bypolls.

The mandate in which 11 out of the 13 disqualified legislators won inspite of their role in bringing down the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government allegedly for personal gain, indicating that engineering defections is indeed a sustainable political strategy that could pave the way for similar actions in other states.

Monday’s results will take BJP’s tally to 116 (excluding the speaker) in the 224-seater house and giving the party much needed relief after it lost Maharashtra last month. The party also enjoys the support of independent legislator taking its tally to 117 with two seats remaining vacant.

“In the remaining three and a half years, I along with my cabinet and legislators will give good governance and aim to win 150 seats in the next elections," an ecstatic Yediyurappa said in Bengaluru.

True to his word, Yediyurappa said that those legislators who resigned from the coalition and stood by the BJP will be given ministerial berths. The BJP had left 16 berths vacant of the total 34 to placate the rebels.

Party leaders and analysts says that voters had to either back Yediyurappa by overlooking the BJP’s role in bringing down Kumaraswamy or vote against them and plunge further into a political crisis since the Congress and JD(S) had snapped ties, leaving no alternative to take over the reins of the government. Yediyurappa’s plea to the dominant Lingayat community for support paying off and keeping him in power after he was forced to step down from the top office three times in the past.

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The 15 bypoll bound constituencies in Karnataka recorded an average voting of 17.60% at 11 am, according to state election authorities.

The high profile three way contest between disqualified legislator N.Nagaraju (M.T.??, who defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), independent Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda and Padmavathi Suresh of the Congress in Hosakote recorded polling of 22.39% at 9 am.

Though all 15 constituencies have seen fierce contests, this particular seat, about 35 kms from Bengaluru, has seen splurging of money and goodies by its three candidates who have declared assets of ₹1200 crore (Nagaraju), ₹138 crore (Sharath Bache Gowda) and ₹424 crore (Padmavathi Sures).

A video of Nagaraju barging into one of the polling booths and demanding to see identification cards of election officials on Thursday led to some confusion and arguments between the candidate and agents.

Reports of minor scuffles and allegations of misconduct was reported from a few other constituencies. The bypolls were necessitated after 17 Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) resigned, allegedly at the behest of the BJP, from the H.D.Kumaraswamy-led coalition government leading to its collapse.

The BJP fielded 13 out of the 15 rebels to help keep the four month old B.S.Yediyurappa-led government from meeting the same fate as the previous dispensation.

From giving lofty grants to dedicating the entire governments resources including the cabinet to help the disqualified legislators win, Yediyurappa has left little to chance to help keep his government afloat. Yediyurappa requires at least six seats currently to save his minority government.

Ranibennur constituency in Haveri district recorded 19.08% polling. The Congress candidate and former Karnataka assembly speaker K.B.Koliwad’s home was raided by Income Tax (I-T) department soon after campaigning ended, according to a report in The Hindu.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of former Karnataka assembly speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to disqualify 17 rebel Congress-Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), legislators. The apex court, however, rejected Kumar’s decision to disallow the lawmakers from contesting polls.

Seventeen rebel Congress- JD(S) legislators had moved the apex court challenging their disqualification by the then assembly speaker in July.

The legislators had resigned amid growing dissent, toppling the previous Congress-JD(S) rule in July. After days of uncertainty, Kumar not only accepted the resignations but disqualified them, ruling that they cannot return to contest the bypolls. This was challenged by the rebels in the apex court.

The court’s decision came ahead of the bypolls scheduled to be held in 15 assembly seats in Karnataka on 5 December. The Election Commission (EC), in September, had deferred the bypolls until the SC decided the fate of the 17 disqualified legislators. The bypolls were earlier to be held on 21 October.

The nomination process for the bypolls in 15 of the total 17 vacant constituencies of Karnataka commenced on Monday. The three main political parties--Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and JD(S)--are yet to finalise their candidates for an election that will determine the future of the three-month old B.S.Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state.

The Congress and the JD(S) have been embroiled in their own internal battles and problems affecting probably its biggest opportunity to bring down the BJP that came to power after it allegedly capitalised on simmering dissent in the opposition ranks and engineered defections that led to the collapse of the 14-month old H.D.Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.

Yediyurappa became the biggest beneficiary of the coalition’s collapse and has the most to lose if he cannot contain the growing voices of dissent within his own party and secure at least eight victories out of the total 15 to continue in power.

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Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka cabinet minister D.K. Shivakumar arrived in Bengaluru on Saturday to a rousing welcome, fifty days after he was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering charges.

Hundreds of his supporters lined the streets and the party office to welcome the leader, who they believe is a target of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s witch hunt.

"If I have done anything wrong or not obeyed the law, let god and the law punish me," Shivakumar said at a press conference in the party office.

Sporting a beard, not appearing as belligerent as before his jail term and sometimes choking on his words, Shivakumar appeared to bask in the affection of hundreds of supporters who turned up at the airport to receive him after 50 days. It took the leader over four hours to cross the 35 kms distance from the airport to state Congress office as supporters had gathered near the toll and enroute, forcing the convoy of hundreds of bikes and cars, to stop every few kilometers. The convoy and its frequent stops causing massive pile up of traffic on the busy airport road.

Former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) H.D. Kumaraswamy met Shivakumar at the airport. Congress leader Siddaramaiah was conspicuous by his absence.

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The special CBI court on Wednesday sent Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till 13 September in connection with a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Dayan Krishnan appeared for the former Karnataka minister. Additional solicitor general K.M. Nataraj appeared for the Enforcement Directorate.

"Pursuant to summons issued to him, he appeared...but he remained evasive and did not reveal the truth." ASG K.M. Nataraj had submitted.

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister, D.K.Shivakumar was produced before special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar on Wednesday.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday after almost four days of rigorous interrogation over charges of money laundering.

Multiple agencies have been probing Shivakumar’s assets for almost two years now.

In August 2017, the Income Tax (I-T) department raided several premises owned by the Congress leader, his family and associates and claimed to have unearthed crores of rupees in unaccounted income.

His home in Sadashivanagar, an upscale neighbourhood in Bengaluru, was raided when he was shielding around 40 Congress legislators from Gujarat ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in August 2017. Shivakumar had attracted all the attention on himself and his ability to shield legislators from Karnataka and other states from alleged poaching attempts by political rivals and lodging them in plush hotels, especially Eagleton Golf resort in the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Around 30,000 people on Wednesday took part in coordinated protests in Bengaluru by Opposition parties and the powerful Vokkaliga community against the arrest of senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The Congress leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 3 September in connection with a money laundering case.

Wednesday’s protests marked one of the largest popular mobilizations since the early 1990s by the Vokkaliga community, which is trying to reassert its dominance in the caste-driven politics of the state.

Influential seers from Vokkaliga mathas (monasteries), as well as other leaders are trying to portray Shivakumar as the victim of an alleged political vendetta targeted at Vokkaligas by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president and home minister Amit Shah.

“The message has gone to whoever it was supposed to. This is only a sample," Nanjavadhutha Mahaswamiji, a prominent seer of the community declared at Freedom Park, where the protests culminated after a 4km rally across the city.

Prominent leaders told demonstrators that former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), Shivakumar and the late Cafe Coffee Day founder V.G. Siddhartha had been targeted by the BJP by misusing central investigative agencies. This, they said, showed that there was a systematic targeting of the Vokkaliga community that has, in recent years, consolidated behind the JD(S).

The protests appear to have dented the BJP’s plans to end the dominance of the JD(S) in south Karnataka where Vokkaligas can influence the results in several constituencies.

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After keeping its state unit on edge for days, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday officially announced its first list of 17 legislators who will be inducted into the B.S.Yedyurappa cabinet.

Rewarding the dominant Lingayat community for backing the party in the assembly as well as the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has included eight people from this caste grouping (including Yedyurappa). Laxman Sangappa Savadi, Jagadish Shettar, V.Somanna, Basavaraj Bommai, J.C.Madhuswamy, C.C.Patil and Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle hail from the Lingayat community, believed to be the single largest in the state.

Shettar is taking up a cabinet minister’s role despite having served as chief minister of the state from July 2012 till May 2013.

The BJP has also included three Vokkaligas in C.N Ashwath Narayan, C.T.Ravi and R.Ashok to help the party make inroads into south Karnataka, where it has little or no presence. The Vokkaligas have, in recent times, consolidated support for former prime minister the H.D.Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) and the BJP has been trying to break this dominance.

The party is rewarding Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Savadhi for their alleged role in shielding rebels with whose help the BJP was able to topple the H.D.Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

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The human death toll in Karnataka rose to 76 on Sunday revealing the extent of devastation left by the rains and floods that lashed the state since the beginning of August.

Over 992 livestock were also killed due to the heavy rains in the state and 10 people are still missing.

People slowly started to leave relief camps and return to their homes and villages as rains subsided and flood waters receded throwing up bigger challenges to rehabilitate the displaced population.

The B.S.Yediyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is depending on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government for financial assistance for flood relief. The floods are touted to have caused losses to the tune of ₹50,000 crore in the southern state.

The monsoon has left a trail of destruction in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and other places across the western side of the country snuffing out lives and livelihood of millions.

According to Karnataka disaster management authorities, over the next two days the northern parts of the state is likely to receive mostly moderate rains and will be heavy in isolated places while coastal and Malnad regions are most likely to receive moderate-to-heavy rains during the same period.

The rains, however, have brought in some respite for some parts of the state including Bengaluru. Heavy inflow into dams has ensured that most reservoirs are almost full and will take care of drinking water requirements for India' information technology capital and growth engine of the state that is home to over over 10 million people.

The chief minister has made several appeals seeking funds for flood relief.

Around 103 taluks in 22 districts of the state has been badly hit with over 6.9 lakh hectares of crop loss. Around 75,317 houses are damaged due to the rains.

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Bengaluru: The newly formed Karnataka government on Tuesday cancelled celebrations of Tipu Sultan Jayanti, indicating how the B.S. Yediyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led rule would not eulogise any aspect of the 18th century controversial ruler of erstwhile Mysuru.

The orders coming barely a day after Yediyurappa proved his majority in the legislative assembly and almost three years after the Congress government initiated the celebrations.

Ironically, Yediyurappa had addressed his first press conference after his swearing in on Friday while facing a portrait of Tipu Sultan in the conference room of Vidhana Soudha.

The order states that there have been several protests in various parts of the state against the celebration of Tipu Jayanthi, especially in Kodagu district. The people of the coffee growing district, are opposed to the celebrations and two people had died as a result when the protests turned violent in 2016.

"In the backdrop of all this, the cabinet has decided that Tipu Sultan celebrations by the Kannada and culture department have been canceled with immediate effect," the order added.

K.G.Bopaiah, the BJP legislator from Virajpet in Kodagu sought that Tipu Jayanthi be cancelled.

The order putting the Congress and BJP, that resolved to work together for the development of the state, on a collision course over the contentious topic. The new government has also been accused of scrapping works and appointments made during the previous government, that is likely to add to the commotion on Wednesday, when the legislature is scheduled to reconvene. The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had initiated government sponsored celebrations on 10 November, since 2016.

"For three years continuously we have celebrated it and the people of Karnataka, too, have accepted it. He was a man who fought the British. According to me, he is the first freedom fighter, " Siddaramaiah said in Bengaluru.

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Karnataka assembly speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar on Sunday disqualified 14 legislators from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S), removing the last remaining hurdle for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is scheduled to prove its majority in the Lower House on Monday, the day the finance bill is also to be taken up by the assembly.

Sunday’s disqualification takes the total number of vacancies in the assembly to 17, including the three legislators, Ramesh L. Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and R. Shankar, who had been disqualified earlier. This brings the strength of the House to 208, including the speaker.

“The respondents thus cease to be members of the Karnataka legislative assembly with immediate effect from the date that is 28 July 2019 till the expiry of the term of this assembly that is the 15th legislative assembly of Karnataka," Kumar announced on Sunday.

Kumar himself may have to step down if the BJP moves a motion against the speaker, but his ruling is likely to hurt the rebels and their aspirations of landing top offices in the Opposition’s rule.

The rebels have denounced the ruling and will challenge it in the courts.

It remains to be seen if more people from the coalition benches will abstain from the floor test on Monday. B. Nagendra, the Congress legislator from Ballari, is still in hospital. It also remains to be seen if expelled Bahujan Samaj Party legislator N. Mahesh will be present in the House during the vote.

The speaker’s ruling has helped the BJP to avoid a crisis. Chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa can prove his majority with just the BJP members and will not have to disappoint his own legislators by accommodating the demands of any new entrants for cabinet berths.

However, analysts say that the BJP might be in for trouble if the ruling barring the re-entry holds good. The party will have to now worry about winning most of the bypolls to retain majority when all vacancies are filled up.

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BENGALURU: Bhookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa, the 76-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president, was sworn in on Friday as the Karnataka chief minister for a record fourth time, following a power tussle and an unexpected twist.

Even before being sworn in, the Lingayat strongman had changed the spelling of his surname, swapping a ‘d’ for an ‘i’ to make it Yediyurappa, apparently to ward off any bad omen associated with the unlucky ashada month.

The hope apparently is that the change in spelling would allow him to occupy the post for a longer period than what he has managed so far— he has not been able to complete a full term in office in his previous three terms.

The move is set to be tested on Monday, when he has to prove his majority in the assembly.

The swearing-in comes three days after the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition lost a confidence motion, forcing the 14-month-old government to make way for the BJP, which had emerged as the largest single party in last year’s assembly elections.

The decision by the BJP to approach the Karnataka governor came a day after assembly speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar disqualified three Congress legislators—Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathalli and R. Shankar—under the anti-defection law. The speaker is yet to decide on the fate of at least 14 other rebel MLAs—one of the reasons that had forced the BJP to restrain itself from forming the government.

Hailed for his tenacity, Yediyurappa, said analysts , could have remained in power for longer had he not rushed to occupy the chair last year. He was forced to resign after just two days as chief minister in May 2018.

In 2007, he had to step down barely seven days after the BJP’s then ally, JD(S), withdrew support.

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka legislative assembly that reconvened on Monday, after the weekend, is expected to witness heated exchanges and drama as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will look to corner the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) coalition over the resignations of its legislators and trust vote.

With a total of 16 resignations so far since 1 July, the H.D.Kumaraswamy-led coalition is facing an imminent collapse even though Congress and JD(S) leaders remain confident of saving the year-old government. The BJP had asked the speaker to fix a time for the trust vote on Monday.

Kumaraswamy’s decision to seek a trust vote has spooked the BJP, which until Friday was certain of forming the next government within weeks, if not days.

Though the Congress appears to have convinced senior leader Ramalinga Reddy, the coalition continues to face a risk of crumbling if assembly speaker, K.R.Ramesh Kumar, does accept the resignations.

“I will attend the assembly today. News that I have left for Mumbai is false," Reddy said on Monday, countering updates on TV channels that said the seven- time legislator from Bengaluru was on his way to join 14 other rebels in Mumbai.

Of the 16 legislators who have resigned so far, 14 are currently holed up in an upscale Mumbai hotel and have refused to meet or entertain any outreach by the Congress. The rebels on Monday wrote a letter to the Powai police station asking them not to allow any Congress delegation entry into hotel premises as they “anticipate serious threat from them".

Meanwhile, all three political parties have lodged their respective legislators in plush hotels across Bengaluru to shield them from alleged poaching attempts from the other side.

But even in the face of possibly its worst ever crisis, most Congress leaders appeared nonchalant. Siddaramaiah was seen joking as he entered Vidhana Soudha along with Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao and other leaders.

News Source: https://www.livemint.com

Bengaluru: In a setback to the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka, two Congress MLAs on Monday quit the Assembly further bringing down the coalition numbers in the House.

Vijayanagar MLA, Anand Singh, met Governor Vajubai Vala and submitted his resignation. Copy of it was sent to Speaker Ramesh Kumar. Hours later, Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been sulking for the last few months over not being made a minister, also resigned from the Assembly.

Jarkiholi reportedly submitted his resignation to Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.

"I met the Governor and tendered my resignation, I gave a copy to him. I will give a copy to the Legislative Assembly speaker as well. I am not hungry for power," Singh told reporters here after meeting the Governor.

Singh said he resigned because CM Kumaraswamy had signed a deal with the Jindal South West Holding Ltd (JSW Steel), the Mumbai-headquartered company, despite his and other leaders repeated protests.

"I had earlier said that if JSW steel had got a lease-cum-steel deal then I would resign. This is against the interest of the state. I had requested the government not to go ahead with it. The government's responsibility was to ensure and uphold the interests of the people," he said.

"Anil lad is also with me. He is also supporting me," he added about the Bellary MLA from Congress.

With the Speaker claiming he has not got any resignation, Singh clarified that he had sent a copy of his resignation to the Speaker. "I will tender my resignation again to the Speaker if he has not got it yet."

With the resignation of Singh and Jarkiholi, the strength of Congress has come down to 76 in the state Assembly.

News Source: https://www.livemint.com

BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday named six-time legislator H.K. Kumaraswamy as the party’s new state president. The move is part of an effort to rebuild the party after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

Kumaraswamy, who represents Scheduled Castes, was made in-charge of the Vokkaliga-backed party, as it faces an existential threat with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) breathing down its neck.

The JD(S) also named former legislator Madhu Bangarappa as its working president. Chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil was named the leader of JD(S)’s youth wing.

Nikhil’s elevation coincides with that of Udhayanidhi Stalin, the actor son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.K. Stalin. Udhayanidhi was made the head of the youth wing of DMK.

Nikhil had unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary elections against independent candidate Sumalatha Amarnath (Sumalatha Ambareesh) from the Mandya parliamentary seat.

“At 11am today I got a call from party leaders and I didn’t expect this at all. I had said a few days ago in Malavalli that if I work as a diligent party member, only then should I be given any post," Nikhil said in Bengaluru.

His appointment will help retain some balance as the Gowda household witnesses a battle for dominance between Kumaraswamy and his brother H.D. Revanna.

Revanna’s son Prajwal was the sole winner for the JD(S) in the Karnataka Lok Sabha polls.

Prajwal, who congratulated the new president and other office bearers, said in Delhi that he was not aware of Nikhil’s appointment, indicating that all was not well within the family.

However, the JD(S) have bigger problems, especially with its alliance with the Congress perpetually in trouble, mostly emanating from within the latter’s ranks.

News Source: https://www.livemint.com

The state BJP on Sunday said the party would intensify its agitation against the state government’s move to hand over 3,667 acres land to JSW Steel in coming days, even as its the saffron party concluded two-day dhana by taking out a protest march.

BJP leaders and workers led by state party president B S Yeddyurappa took out a march from Anand Rao Circle to the chief minister’s residence, shouting slogans against the coalition government.

The protesters wanted to stage a dharna in front of chief minister’s residence. But they could not do so as the police took them into preventive custody near Shivananada Circle.

“The BJP is not against giving land to the company on lease. But the government wants to sell the land at a throwaway price. Even the Congress and the JD(S) leaders such as H K Patil and A H Vishwanath are against the deal. The government’s keenness to give the land proves that it has received kickbacks,” Yeddyurappa said while addressing the partymen.

The BJP also made use of the protest to mount attack on the government on other issues such as the IMA cheating case, crop loan waiver and drought.

“Many big leaders of the Congress are involved in IMA case. Minorities Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahemd Khan was said to be close to IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan. So, the government has been trying to hush up the case by setting up an SIT,” Yeddyurappa said. The BJP has been demanding a CBI probe into the issue.

The government has failed to provide relief to the drought-affected people, especially farmers. The aggrieved people in rural areas have migrated to nearest cities due to lack of water and jobs. The BJP will launch a state-wide protest and force the government to wake up from deep slumber, he added.

News Source: https://www.deccanherald.com

BENGALURU: The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) is set to meet on Tuesday amid a weak monsoon aggravating the storage situation in the reservoirs in the river basin and a severe water crisis gripping Tamil Nadu.

The CWMA had in May directed Karnataka to release 9.19tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil

Nadu for the month of June, subject to inflow in its reservoirs. However, only 1.72tmcft has flown from Biligundlu reservoir to Mettur dam.

“The rain gods are to be blamed. The reservoirs in Cauvery basin are near-empty and we are in no position to release water for cultivation even in Karnataka. We can just manage the drinking water requirement with the available storage,” said MK Venkataram, technical adviser on irrigation to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.

The four reservoirs — Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS), Harangi, Kabini and Hemavathi — cumulatively received only 1.59tmcft of water between June 1 and 23, compared to 60tmcft of inflow in the same period last year. The live storage of these reservoirs, put together, is just 13.24tmcft at present; last year, it was 59tmcft.

K’taka should release water: TN

Certainly, this is the hour of distress. We hope farmers from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu understand this,” said Rakesh Singh, irrigation principal secretary, who will represent Karnataka in the CWMA meeting. He pointed out that the inflow to the reservoirs has been the lowest in the past 40 years.

Representatives from Tamil Nadu said their state is entitled to its due share and Karnataka should ensure the release of water. “There should be no reason for holding back the share,” said R Subramanian, chairman of Tamil Nadu Cauvery Technical Cell. Tamil Nadu was entitled to 9.19 tmcft in June, and 31.24tmcft in July. With the present storage condition and prediction that monsoon will weaken further in the coming days, officials see little chance of Karnataka complying with schedule of water release.

“Cauvery basin has received 50% deficit rain so far.

News Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Minority Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan said on Wednesday he had no links with the scam-hit IMA Group, except for having sold them his property for which he received Rs 5 crore.

"That was in 2017. Before that, I had nothing to do whatsoever with this company," he told reporters.

Khan said he visited the IMA's office late last month after receiving WhatsApp messages that the company had defaulted on payments to investors. "In my capacity as the minister for minority welfare, I visited their office to inquire about the complaints. I was shown their gold stash and all that. They said payments had stopped for whatever reason," he said.

"People should've filed a police complaint as soon as the payments stopped, but they kept faith," Khan said and appealed to IMA founder Mohammed Mansoor Khan to resurface. "The government is committed to protecting the interests of the investors. That's why I've been running around for the last two days."

Khan refuted reports that he was targeting Shivajinagar legislator R Roshan Baig. "We're brothers. No one is conspiring against him."

He also said that he, along with other Congress Muslim leaders, had submitted to the chief minister and home minister a list of 25 assets belonging to the IMA promoter. "There's information that there are benami assets also," he said.

News Source: https://www.deccanherald.com

Five Dalit candidates of the BJP had won from Karnataka in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah has hit out at the BJP for not inducting a Dalit MP from Karnataka in the Union cabinet, saying “upliftment” of the community will not happen just by “big talk”.

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Five Dalit candidates of the BJP had won from Karnataka in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

“Upliftment of Dalits won’t happen just by big talk. In the recent elections several BJP candidates have won from reserved constituencies. Best wishes to them.

“Despite this not even one Dalit MP from the state has got representation in the Union cabinet. Is there a bigger injustice or betrayal than this?” Siddaramaiah, who is also the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, tweeted in Kannada.

Calling Siddaramaiah “Twitter Ramaiah,” the Karnataka BJP hit back at the Congress leader and asked him to make veteran party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who lost in the Lok Sabha polls, the chief minister, if he really cared for Dalits.

People are also aware that it was Siddaramaiah who prevented G Parameshwara (now deputy chief minister) from becoming the chief minister as he was a Dalit, it alleged in a tweet in Kanada.

“Respected Twitter Ramaiah. Don’t show your love towards Dalits only through your tweets. People of the state know that you averted chief minister position to G Parameshwara (now deputy chief minister), as he was a Dalit.

“If you really cared for Dalits make Mallikarjun Kharge, who has lost election- the CM,” the Karnataka BJP tweeted.

News Source: https://indianexpress.com

For the first time in the state, the BJP secured a 51.4% vote share, while the Congress scraped through with a negligible 31.9%.

May 23 was a day of historical significance for the BJP in Karnataka. The party accomplished what seemed like an unachievable feat just a couple of decades ago – the decimation of the Congress in Karnataka. It was a washout for the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka, as the BJP won 25 out of the 28 constituencies in the state. The results came as a massive embarrassment to the Congress, which had prided itself in reigning over Karnataka for decades at a time. The tables have turned and the status quo has been demolished.

For the first time in the state, the BJP secured a 51.4% vote share, while the Congress scraped through with a negligible 31.9%. Even a decade ago, the BJP in Karnataka could not have achieved such a monumental feat. So what changed in Karnataka in 2019?

The traditional Congress voters shifted to BJP

One of the reasons why the Modi wave swept Karnataka and demolished traditional vote banks is due to the pre-poll alliance the Congress forged with the sub-regional party – the JD(S).

The vote base of the Congress – comprising the OBC, minority and Dalits ended up voting for the BJP. One of the most shocking turn of events was the BJP’s victory in the Old Mysuru region, which was a fortress of the Congress and JD(S).

The Old Mysuru Congress strongholds comprised the Mysuru-Kodagu, Mandya, Hassan, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru and Chamarajanagar constituencies.

This time around, in Kolar and Chikkaballapura, two Congress heavyweights KH Muniyappa and Veerappa Moily conceded defeat to the BJP candidates. This was because the members of the Chalavadi community along with the Marasu Vokkaligas voted for the BJP. The situation was the same in Chamarajanagar, where the votes of the OBC community went to BJP’s V Srinivas Prasad.

In Mysuru, Tumakuru and Mandya regions, the Congress vote base, including a certain section of Vokkaligas and the members of the Kuruba community voted for the BJP. This sudden shift in vote base is purely because of the coalition, says political analyst Mahadev Prakash.

“See, the people belonging to backward communities and certain sub-sects of the Dalit community have been unhappy with the Congress. This is because the Vokkaligas were traditionally the community which oppressed and humiliated those belonging to backward castes. There is history of violence and humiliation perpetrated by Vokkaligas that the minorities and OBCs cannot forgive. They will never vote for the JD(S) or anyone who supports the JD(S) simply because it is a party of those belonging to the feudal class. The alliance was a big mistake,” he added.

News source: https://news.google.com

BENGALURU: Water from Maharashtra is expected to flow into river Krishna in Karnataka in the next two days, Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy announced on Sunday.

Karnataka had requested Maharashtra to release water from its Koyna or Warna reservoirs to meet the drinking water needs of Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts. The neighbouring state has also requested Karnataka to release water from Almatti reservoir to meet its the drinking water needs, too, across the border.

Kumaraswamy, in a tweet said, the Maharashtra Chief Secretary has sent an official communication to his Karnataka counterpart on the release of water.

On Friday, a delegation of BJP MLAs and MPs from North Karnataka had met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and sought his intervention to deal with the drinking water crisis in parts of Karnataka. Water Resources Minister D.K.Shivakumar too had been pursuing the request with Maharashtra.

Karnataka has posted an all-time polling high of 68.6% in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, surpassing its previous best of 67.6%, recorded in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections.

The state also improved its 2014 figure of 67.2% by 1.4 percentage points, data released by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday showed.

The record turnout in the state left both the JD(S)-Congress alliance and the BJP, which won more seats than the other two combined in 2014, confident of improving their individual tallies.

As far as constituencies go, Mandya by breaching the 80% mark has broken all records since 1951 with no constituency having ever crossed 78% mark. Before April 18, 2019, the record for constituencies was held by Dakshina Kannada — 77.15% in 2014 — which barely broke a record held by Mandya previously. Mandya had polled 77.13% in 1984.

Leaders of the JD(S)-Congress combine attributed the high voting percentage to people’s commitment to democracy. BJP leaders, on the other hand, were more inclined to believe that the turnout was indicative of people’s support for the saffron party. Some leaders of the party said there should have been an even greater increase in voting, going by the overall mood, but non-BJP voters did not turn up.

Leaders of the JD(S)-Congress combine attributed the high voting percentage to people’s commitment to democracy. BJP leaders, on the other hand, were more inclined to believe that the turnout was indicative of people’s support for the saffron party. Some leaders of the party said there should have been an even greater increase in voting, going by the overall mood, but non-BJP voters did not turn up.

“It shows people’s faith in democracy, and we are confident that they have made the right choice,” chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said. “That voters have come out in large numbers is also a result of overall increase in awareness,” the CM added.

‘Difficult to predict who will benefit from large turnout’

In South And West, Voters In Two States Make A Strong Statement

Congress’ Priyank Kharge said: “Unlike up to the late 1980s when caste politics was not so divisive in Karnataka, it is very difficult to predict who will benefit from a large turnout until we get the booth-wise details. As an alliance, we’re confident of getting 18-20 seats.”

Arguing that there is a greater awareness among people and that the increase has largely been in rural segments may mean that people have sought change, he said: “Unlike in urban areas, people in rural areas are more concerned about policies. I think this will have an impact.”

BJP state general secretary N Ravi Kumar said the high turnout was because of enthusiastic voting by BJP supporters.

“Barring segments like Tumakuru and Mandya, Congress and JD(S) voters have not come out to vote and this clearly indicates that it is advantage BJP,” he said. “We’ll get a minimum of 20 seats this time and that’s because we have also managed to poach some votes from traditional Congress voters. For example, other than in Mysuru belt, we will get at least 50% of the Kuruba votes too.”

The Karnataka government Tuesday transferred the deputy commissioner of Mandya, from where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil is contesting the Lok Sabha election as JD(S) candidate, following direction from the Election Commission.

P C Jaffer, IAS commissioner for public instruction, Bengaluru, is transferred with immediate effect and posted until further order as deputy commissioner, Mandya district, from where Deputy Commissioner N Manjushree is transferred, the official notification said.

The order is issued as per the direction of Election Commission of India, it said.

Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh had accused Manjushree of "bias".

She had alleged that Kumaraswamy was misusing the office of the deputy commissioner, also the district election officer.

Sumalatha's polling agent had also alleged that the DC did not act on their complaint against flaws in Nikhil Kumaraswamy's nomination papers.

Sumalatha, a multi-lingual actress and widow of actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh, is contesting as an independent candidate from Mandya, from where her late husband had contested on a Congress ticket.

BJP is supporting Sumalatha, by not fielding any candidate in Mandya.

Congress had denied ticket to Sumalatha, citing coalition compulsions, and ceded the seat to JD(S), as the party had sitting MP there.

However, several Congress leaders and workers, miffed over the party's decision to cede the seat to JD(S), their arch-rival in the Vokkaliga bastion, have extended support to Sumalatha.

It is a high-stake battle for Kumaraswamy in Mandya as his son is the coalition candidate.

Sumalatha is also running a high-voltage campaign, with several Kannada film industry personalities on her side. Film stars like Darshan and Yash are actively campaigning for her.

Mandya will go to polls on April 18, the first phase of the two-phase polling in the state.

Over 20 locations searched across the State, unaccounted cash seized.

Searches by Income Tax officials on premises linked to leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular) and their associates across six districts in south Karnataka triggered a political storm on Thursday. The searches, coming just 20 days ahead of the election, were conducted in Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga.

The ruling coalition — the JD(S) and the Congress — closed ranks and condemned the BJP government at the Centre for misusing official machinery against the Opposition. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy later led a protest in front of Income Tax Department offices in Bengaluru.

The action came within hours of Mr. Kumaraswamy predicting a “massive IT search” against JD(S) leaders on Wednesday evening, with I-T sleuths reaching the premises of politically connected businessmen around midnight in Bengaluru.

Soon, the searches expanded, with I-T officials reaching the residences of Minor Irrigation Minister C.S. Puttaraju at Chinakurali in Mandya district early on Thursday. The raids covered the premises of Mr. Puttaraju’s two nephews.

Others targeted were at least five contractors believed to be close to Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna, and two senior PWD engineers in Hassan. Sources said searches by officials continued late on Thursday and were likely to be widened. I-T sources said the searches were based on “credible information” that certain contractors had received favours while works were awarded, and the possibility of these funds being used during the election. In all, 20 locations were searched and a couple of crores of unaccounted money was seized.

CM leads protest

Senior cabinet Ministers of Karnataka, led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah staged a protest in front of the offices of the Income Tax Department in Bengaluru on Thursday evening as day long raids against Janata Dal (S) leaders and their associates continued across six districts in south Karnataka.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the misuse of Central agencies to create an environment of fear by the BJP was setting the States on a collision course with Centre.

Congress and JDS activists who tried to storm the Income Tax office were arrested and later released as the protest led to massive traffic jam’s on arterial Queens Road.

As the protests continued with colaition leaders accusing the BJP-led NDA at the Centre of misusing the official machinery, the I-T Department, in an unprecedented move, clarified that no sitting minister, MP or MLA had been investigated.

No confirmation was given by the I-T department about the number of locations raided even as unconfirmed news reports filtered in of raids in Hassan and Mysuru districts as well.

Hours after Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said he had information that the Income Tax department was set to conduct searches on leaders of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance, minor irrigation minister CS Puttaraju confirmed that the raids had begun at his residences from the early hours of Thursday.

Puttaraju said his family home in Mandya district had been raided and that there were similar searches that were being conducted in Mysuru and elsewhere.

“My house in Chinakurali village has been raided, mine is a joint family so it is a raid on me,” he said.

Kumaraswamy took to Twitter to hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he is playing a “revenge game”.

Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao said the IT department has become “a political wing of the BJP.”

“It’s now clearly established that the IT Dept is now a political wing of the BJP. Congress & JDS leaders/supporters are and will be wilfully targeted. Abuse of power & position for political gain is the norm for #ModiShahGoondaRaj,” Rao wrote on Twitter.

No confirmation was given by the I-T department about the number of locations raided even as unconfirmed news reports filtered in of raids in Hassan and Mysuru districts as well.

Kumaraswamy had said on Wednesday that he had information that the I-T department had sought the support of Central Reserve Police Force personnel, rather than the state police as was the practice.

“Around 300-350 Central CRPF personnel have been brought here from different states to conduct raids. Are we indulging in vengeance politics or is the Bharatiya Janata Party?” Kumaraswamy had asked.

Kumaraswamy said he had information that 300 taxis had been readied to pick up the personnel.

“To stoop so low to scare us, we haven’t done anything we haven’t committed any crime. At this late stage, during elections, the games being played by the I-T department... we know what they are playing at. If they think they can work as the agents of a political party they will have to face the consequences,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said that usually, the I-T tax utilised the state police force for raids.

“Getting the CRPF personnel from outside to conduct raids... This will not continue for long and they should realise it,” he said. “I am not protecting anybody and I will not allow vengeance politics of any kind here. If they continue in this manner I will have to protest like West Bengal chief minister [Mamata Bannerjee].”

State BJP spokesperson S Prakash condemned the statements by the chief minister.

“This is Kumaraswamy’s style, which is to not allow officials to do their duty. The I-T department is an independent authority,” he said. “The department’s raid means they will check the books of some persons. So, there is no need for alarm if there is no wrongdoing involved,” he said.

News source: https://www.hindustantimes.com

At least four Congress candidates will be contesting on a JD(S) symbol in the Lok Sabha elections. A decision was taken after former prime minister HD Deve Gowda consulted Congress leaders to allow their candidates to contest on a JD(S) symbol in Uttara Kannada, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Bengaluru North and in Vijayapura.

The JD(S) got these Constituencies in the seat sharing deal with the Congress, but it has no base and no formidable candidates to field.

That is why the party has decided to field Minister RV Deshpande’s son Prashanth Deshpande (Uttara Kannada), Pramod Madhvaraj (Udupi Chikkamagaluru), Shivaraj Tangadagi (Vijayapura) and BL Shankar or an industrialist friend of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge (Bengaluru North).

Meanwhile, Minister HD Revanna’s son Prajwal will file his nomination papers for Hassan Lok Sabha on Friday. Earlier there were doubts whether Prajwal, a politically ambitious grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, would contest or not. As Gowda, who will turn 87 on May 1, was unable to find a safe Constituency, Prajwal had offered to back out. At a meeting between Gowda, his sons - Revanna and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the grandson offered to make way for the family patriarch.

Meanwhile, Minister HD Revanna’s son Prajwal will file his nomination papers for Hassan Lok Sabha on Friday. Earlier there were doubts whether Prajwal, a politically ambitious grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, would contest or not. As Gowda, who will turn 87 on May 1, was unable to find a safe Constituency, Prajwal had offered to back out. At a meeting between Gowda, his sons - Revanna and Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the grandson offered to make way for the family patriarch.

BJP defers list announcement

Discontentment over selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha seat has forced the BJP to defer announcing the list for two days. There has been opposition to a few sitting members including Ministers Ananth Kumar Hegde and Ramesh Jigajinagi, Shobha Karandalaje, Pratap Simha and Naleen Kumar Katil.

There has been opposition to A Narayanaswamy in Chitradurga. Two MLAs, Goolihatti Shekhar and Chandrappa, have revolted openly and demanded that a candidate from the Bovi community be given ticket. In Tumakuru too, there is a stiff resistance to GH Basavaraj being given ticket. In Ballari, the district BJP unit is divided over making Devendrappa as candidate. Another group is demanding that Venkatesh Prasad, brother of Congress MLA Nagendra be given the ticket.

Power disruption, a desperate act: BSY


BJP president BS Yeddyurappa termed the State government’s disruption of Sumalatha’s rally in Mandya as an act of desperation.

“Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s desperation and the fear that son Nikhil would lose the Lok Sabha has made him to stoop to low standards,” he said.

MYSURU: Actor Sumalatha, who is busy touring the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, said she would announce her decision about contesting the upcoming general elections on March 18. “I have not yet taken a final decision on contesting the Lok Sabha elections. I will announce the same within a week,” she said.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, she said that she was being urged to contest the Lok Sabha elections on April 18.

She said Congress leaders, party workers and Ambareesh fans want her to enter politics. Recalling her tour in all assembly constituencies of Mandya, she said she received an overwhelming response from the public. Sumalatha had said that she was mother India to Darshan, who has supported her family and her ambitions. He has asked people to follow her if she contests in the Lok Sabha elections.

Hinting that too many from Sandalwood will campaign for her, she refused to disclose names. She clarified that irrigation minister D K Shivakumar was not pressuring her to contest and advised her to contest from elsewhere.

However, Sumalatha has said she would contest only from Mandya. When asked about Minister H D Revanna's comments, she refused to comment. She said the people of the state were tracking the developments and will soon react.

She said she was happy to know that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy apologised for Revanna’s remarks and said she entered social media for political reasons. Meanwhile, Sumalatha was given rousing reception during her visit to Nagamangala.

Hundreds of Congress workers, former minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, fans and others burst crackers and welcomed Sumalatha.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Sunday announced the schedule for Lok Sabha elections 2019 on Sunday evening.

The LS polls in Karnataka will be held in two phases, with 14 constituencies going to the polls in each phase - April 18 and April 23.

The dates for the seven phases are: April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19. Counting of votes will be done on May 23.

The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately after the announcement. VVPATs will be used with EVMs at all polling stations in the country.

Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will be held with Lok Sabha polls. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will not be held along with the LS polls.

The number of total electorate in the general elections is expected to be 900 million, of which 15 million voters are in the age group of 18-19 years. There will be approximately 10 lakh polling stations across the country as compared to 9 lakh polling stations in 2014.

BENGALURU: A Congress legislator in Karnataka who had gone "missing" for several weeks during the political turmoil in the state resigned from the party today. Umesh Jadhav submitted his resignation to the state assembly speaker. The Congress called him a "betrayer" and said that he had "already sold himself to the BJP".
Mr Jadhav is a two-time legislator from Chincholi constituency in north Karnataka's Kalaburagi district.

He submitted his resignation letter without giving any explanation.

Umesh Jadhav and three other Congress legislators - Ramesh Jarkiholi, B Nagendra and Mahesh Kumtahalli - surfaced in Bengaluru last month, weeks after they went "missing". The Congress had recommended their disqualification to the assembly speaker.

"Dr Umesh Jadhav's resignation was a forgone conclusion because he had already sold himself to the BJP. He is leaving the Congress party for his selfish motives. He can be called a betrayer," Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao told reporters.

The four leaders had kept the party on tenterhooks for several weeks, skipping the budget session of Karnataka assembly last month and defying the party's instructions to attend the two meetings of its legislators on January 18 and February 8.

The opposition BJP has been accused of trying to poach the legislators to bring down the coalition government of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress.

Umesh Jadhav's resignation will not affect the majority of the coalition government.

BENGALURU: In a big relief for Karnataka water resources minister D K Shivakumar, a special court people’s representatives on Thursday discharged him from three cases registered by the Income tax department.

Special judge allowed the applications filed by the minister seeking discharge from the case, holding that the computation of income tax evasion and assessment proceedings are yet to be completed.

The judge, however, reserved the liberty to the Income Tax department to register the complaint once the assessment proceedings are completed.

DK Shivakumar had sought for discharge from the case claiming that the income tax department could not have launched prosecution even before culmination of assessment proceedings for the year 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

In one of the cases, Shivakumar has also been charged under section 201 of IPC, for destruction of evidence, for allegedly tearing of a sheet of paper during an income tax raid about 18 months ago.

News source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

BENGALURU: Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said the India's air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group inside Pakistan will prove to be a decisive factor for the BJP’s victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters prior to attending a meet of the BJP party workers in Davangere and Chitradurga, Yeddyurappa said, "The assault on Pakistan will prove to be decisive for our victory across the country with the Modi wave catching fervour among the youngsters celebrating the attack on the neighboring state and avenging the 44 CRPF jawans killed in Pulwama. I am certain that in Karnataka also we will be able to pull off at least 22 seats after yesterday’s attack and today morning’s effort in bringing down the Pakistan airplane at the border.”

However, the former Karnataka CM claimed that his statement was being reported out of context.

News source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

A massive fire in the parking lot opposite the IAF's Yelahanka air base, where the Aero India show is underway, gutted about 300 cars on Saturday, police said. No casualties were reported.

"The blaze is likely to have been caused due to dry grass catching fire aided by high velocity winds," Director General of Police for Fire and Emergency Services M.N. Reddi told IANS.

The fire broke out around noon in the fourth parking lot near the air base's fifth gate where visitors on the fourth day of the 5-day show had parked their vehicles.

As many as 25 fire tenders and 150 firemen battled for two hours to douse the blaze, first limiting the fire's spread by a gap created by removing adjacent cars, Reddi said.

"In all, 300 cars were burnt. Fire is fully extinguished now," he tweeted later.

"Details of damage to vehicles is being ascertained. A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of fire," said a statement by the Defence Ministry.

Thick columns of black smoke were seen billowing soon after the flying display of fighters, helicopters and aerobatics by jet trainers, which began at 10 a.m., concluded by noon.

The news of the fire was announced at around 12.30 p.m.

"An announcement by the organisers at 12.30 p.m. only said it was a small fire, but did not mention about the cars catching fire," Shashi Kumar, a city-based engineer visiting the expo, told IANS.

As news of the cars being gutted came, several of the visitors began leaving, fearing their vehicles were among the ones damaged even as the aerial display of about 30 aircraft resumed as per schedule between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

State transport buses were operated to ferry those whose cars were burnt and were stranded at the venue.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government deployed a team of surveyors to assess the damage and process the insurance claims by the owners of the burnt-out cars.

"The state transport department will issue duplicate RCs (registration certificate) and DL (driving licenses) to all those who have lost them in the fire," said Chief Secretary T.M. Vijaya Bhasar in a statement.

The state government has urged the Central government to ask insurance firms to take a lenient view of the incident for claims.

"Alternate parking place has been identified for the show on Sunday," added Bhaskar.

News source: https://www.businessinsider.in

KARNATAKA: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday directed the state's Forest Department officials to take preventive measures to keep the forest fires under check.
His instructions come in the wake of the fire tragedy which took place in Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park in Chamarajanagar district on February 23.

"We are closely monitoring the forest fire. The Forest Department is overseeing the preventive action, Mr Kumaraswamy told ANI.

He further said that forest officials and the fire service personnel are trying to control the fire.

News source: https://www.ndtv.com