Karnataka results: Time INC changed name to Congress (PMP), says Chouhan

The CM took direct aim at the Congress saying it is time for the party to change its name from INC (Indian National Congress) to 'Congress (PMP)'

From INC to PMP

Barbs started flying just as the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka. Soon after the results were declared, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (pictured) took direct aim at the Congress saying it is time for the party to change its name from INC (Indian National Congress) to 'Congress (PMP)', given that it is in power in only three states. "With this #KarnatakaVerdict it's time for Congress to change its name from Indian National Congress to Congress (PMP) Congress — Punjab, Mizoram, Puducherry," Chouhan said in a tweet.

Kerala Tourism’s K’taka moment

As it became evident that Karnataka will see some days of uncertainty over government formation, Kerala Tourism invited the newly elected legislators to unwind at the popular resorts in the state. Last year, the Congress party had taken its Gujarat legislators to a resort near Bengaluru when it feared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was going to try and persuade its legislators to cast their votes against the party's Rajya Sabha candidate. The Kerala Tourism tweet was a tongue-in-cheek reference to that incident, and to the future possibilities of legislators being housed in such resorts to prevent horse-trading. "After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe and beautiful resorts of god's own country. #ComeOutAndPlay," it tweeted.

North block waits

A day after it was announced that railway minister Piyush Goyal would take temporary charge of the ministries of finance and corporate affairs till Arun Jaitley recovers from a kidney transplant, there was some confusion in the North Block about when he would actually step in. Only one of the five secretaries of the finance ministry was in office on Tuesday — one was on leave, two were in Mumbai for the Reserve Bank of India board meeting and one position is vacant. The office of the secretary got a call that Goyal would be coming to the North Block after lunch. However, Goyal did not turn up. Some officials said he might not come to the North Block at all, and files would be sent to him at the Rail Bhawan instead.