Page 88 - Karnataka

Karnataka Assembly polls 2023: Eshwarappa denies pitching for CT Ravi as CM

Amid reports that he pitched for BJP national general secretary CT Ravi as the next chief minister of Karnataka, former state minister and senior party leader KS Eshwarappa denied making any statement

Shah's remarks on Karnataka polls insult to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: Congress

The Congress slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday over his reported remarks that the upcoming Karnataka polls are not just to elect MLAs but to entrust the future of the state in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and claimed that the comments were an "insult" to 6.5 crore Kannadigas. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Home Minister says elections in Karnataka are to hand over future of state to PM Modi. Last I checked, election on May 10 is to elect MLAs and have a CM FOR the state." "HM's confession shows their desperation. So much for cooperative federalism. This is an insult to 6.5 cr Kannadigas," the former Union minister said. Tagging a video on Twitter of Shah's remarks reportedly made during a poll rally in the southern state, the Congress said the home minister must apologise and alleged that he not only insulted Karnataka's identity, but also the democratic values of India. "It is shocking to know that the Home Minister of Indi

Defamation case lodged against Siddaramaiah for statement on Lingayats

A defamation case was lodged on Tuesday against Karnataka's Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah over his alleged statement on corruption practised by Lingayat Chief Ministers in the state.

Sitharaman, Rajnath, Yogi to address public meetings in K'taka tomorrow

Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be in Karnataka on Wednesday to campaign for the BJP in various parts of the State in run-up to the May 10 assembly election. According to the tour programme, Finance Minister Sitharaman will fly from Bengaluru to Kalaburagi on Wednesday by a special flight and will address a press meet at 10 AM. She will also have an interaction with intellectuals at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hall at 11 AM. The Finance Minister will address Mahila Samavesha' (women's conclave) at Aland in Kalaburagi district. She will return from Aland to the district headquarters town of Kalaburagi to take part in another Mahila Samavesha' at 3 PM. Sitharaman will also take part in a door-to-door campaign in Kalaburagi city for an hour from 4 PM. She will fly back to Bengaluru in a special aircraft. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will reach Belagavi by a special aircraft from Delhi and then fly i

Regime granting 4% quota for Muslims will continue till May 9: SC to K'taka

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said Karnataka's earlier regime granting four per cent reservation to Muslims will continue to hold the field till May 9. The top court will hear the batch of petitions just on the eve of the polling on May 10. The poll results will be declared on May 13. A bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna also said the decision of scrapping of the four per cent quota for Muslims in 2B category of the 'Other Backward Castes' and granting benefits of increased quota to Vokkaligas and Lingayats in admissions and appointments to government jobs will not be implemented till May 9 after the state government sought time to file its reply. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Karnataka government, said he will be filing the reply, which is prepared and is a bulky document on a batch of the pleas during the day. "I will be filing it today but the problem is I (solicitor general) am in personal difficulty as arguing before the constitutio

Priyanka holds roadshow in Karnataka, urges people to vote for Congress

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday held a massive roadshow in Krishnarajanagara here waving at a large enthusiastic crowd along the route, seeking people's support ahead of the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka. Standing atop a specially-designed vehicle, she was greeted by the crowd gathered on the sides of the roads and on nearby buildings. Large number of party workers holding Congress flags were seen marching along with the vehicle, as it passed through the streets, amid drum beats and slogans like 'Congress Congress' and 'Priyanka Gandhi ki jai'. Vadra was accompanied by AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and other local party leaders. She even clicked a selfie from the vehicle for an "admirer" standing on the road, and shook hands with a couple of them. Addressing the people at the end of the roadshow, she urged them to change the government in Karnataka which is "looting" them. "For the sake of your future, vote for Congress and bringi

Wil not implement decision on scrapping 4% reservation for Muslims: Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the state government will not implement its decision to scrap four per cent reservation for Muslims in 2B category of the 'Other Backward Castes' till the hearing in the Supreme Court is completed. He emphasised that the reservation for 17 sub-castes of extremely backward Muslims who are placed in Category-1 and Category 2-A have not been touched. "We had decided that till the time the hearing is complete we will not take it forward. Court has not given any stay. We only have said that you (SC) hear the case; so long the case is heard, we will not implement it," Bommai told reporters here. He was reacting to the Supreme Court's direction to the Karnataka government not to implement its decision of scrapping four per cent reservation for Muslims till May 9 when the matter will be heard. At the fag end of its term, the BJP government decided to abolish the four per cent reservation for Muslims under 2-B category. The four per

Former Karnataka Minister, Cong leader D B Inamdar passes away aged 74

Congress leader and former Karnataka Minister D B Inamdar passed away aged 74, family sources said. The five-time MLA was admitted last month to a private hospital here with severe pneumonia and multi-organ failure, and succumbed to the illness on Tuesday. He entered politics in 1983 as a member of the Janata Party after the demise of his father B D Inamdar, and was elected to the Assembly twice on the party ticket representing Kittur in Belagavi district. He joined the Congress in 1991 and won the Assembly elections thrice. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah were among those who condoled the death of the senior politician.

Priyanka Gandhi attacks BJP govt on corruption in poll-bound Karnataka

Accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of rampant corruption, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Tuesday Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been "looted" from the state. She also expressed confidence about Congress coming to power after May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka and taking the state on the path of development. "What is most sad is the 40 per cent government commission that was there in the state looted you. They looted you without any shame," Vadra said while targeting the ruling BJP in the state. Seeking to highlight various alleged scams, contractors' committing suicide, and contractors association even writing a letter to the Prime Minister alleging scam, she said at a public meeting, "but there were no action, as many of those involved were associated with the BJP. " "You might have read about Rs 8 crore seized from the son of an MLA. Instead of investigating, the MLA carried out a parade. " "It is said Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been looted from Karnataka,"

Karnataka polls: It's a pro-incumbency election, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said he believed that the "Modi factor" would play a role in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls and help return the BJP to power in this "pro-incumbency election". He described the Congress's campaign against the BJP government in the state as "40 per cent commission sarkar'' as a "fake narrative" to "deflect away" from the opposition party's "long history of corruption and exploitation of Karnataka". I "It's pro-incumbency election -- where BJP's 'double-engine sarkar' report card of service during the most challenging time in Karnataka's history with floods first and two years of covid is known to the people of Karnataka -- governance that was a sharp contrast to the years of Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) exploitation," the Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka told PTI. On the impact of the 'Modi factor' in the polls, he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is India's most trusted and loved leader, and he has transformed political cultur

BJP leaders Amit Shah, JP Nadda to hold roadshows in southern Karnataka

In its latest round of electioneering in poll-bound Karnataka, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda will take part in separate roadshows in the southern part of the state on Monday. Shah arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday night. According to the itinerary shared by the BJP, Shah will fly to Mysuru to pay his obeisance at the renowned Chamundeshwari Temple. He will then take a helicopter ride from Mysuru to Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district, and lead a roadshow from 1 pm to 2 pm. The Home Minister, who was a former BJP chief, will then fly to Sakaleshpura where he will take out another roadshow to boost party cadres from 3 pm to 4 pm. After heading back to Mysuru, he will fly in a special aircraft to Hubballi in northern Karnataka in the evening. The BJP leader will hold an Election Working Committee meeting with party leaders at a luxury hotel in Hubballi where he will be staying for the night. Meanwhile, BJP president J P Nadda will reach Bengaluru by a speci

Karnataka Assembly polls: Rahul Gandhi to interact with sugarcane farmers

On the second day of his two-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will have an interaction with sugarcane farmers and youth, and later address a public meeting in the state on Monday. At 2 pm, the former AICC president will take part in an interaction with sugarcane farmers at Ramdurg in Belagavi district. He will then leave for Gadag to take part in 'Yuva Samvaad' (interaction with youth). Gandhi will then be in Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's neighbouring constituency of Hangal in Haveri district where he will be addressing a public meeting in the evening. Bommai is contesting from Shiggaon segment in the district. The Congress leader will then leave for Hubballi to board a flight back to Delhi. On arriving in Karnataka on Sunday, Gandhi had paid obeisance to 12th-century poet and social reformer Basaveshwara at his resting place in Kudala Sangama, on the occasion of his birth anniversary that is observed as 'Basava Jayanti' in the state. He then ...

17,000 teachers recruited, 8,000 classrooms built by BJP govt: CM Bommai

The construction of 8,000 classrooms and recruitment of 17,000 teachers by the Education department took place during the incumbent BJP government in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said

Per capita income gap between Karnataka's richest, poorest districts widens

The average income in Bengaluru Urban, which continues to be the richest district in the state, was Rs 6.2 lakh in FY22. This is almost 5x higher than the income in in Kalaburagi

Massive crowds join Rahul Gandhi on his road show in Karnataka's Vijayapura

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday held a massive road show here, ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls, waving at a large, enthusiastic crowd that had lined up on both sides of the route. Standing on top of a specially designed vehicle, Gandhi constantly waved at the people gathered in the streets and on nearby buildings, many of whom were seen chanting 'Rahul, Rahul' slogans and shouting loud cheers. He began the road show after garlanding the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. People holding Congress flags moved along as the vehicle carrying Gandhi and other Congress leaders passed through the streets from Shivaji Circle and Kanakadasa Circle, amid the sound of drum beats. Karnataka Congress campaign committee chief M B Patil and several other party leaders and workers accompanied Gandhi on the road show. Gandhi, earlier today began his two-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka from Kudala Sangama, where he offered obeisance to 12th-century poet and social reformer .

Rahul Gandhi to embark on two-day visit to Karnataka on Sunday

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will arrive in poll-bound Karnataka on a two-day visit starting Sunday, where he will attend a series of events including visit to temples, interaction with people and address public, Congress party said on Saturday. According to his schedule, Gandhi will reach Hubballi at 10.30 AM and then he will fly to Kudala Sangama in Bagalkote by helicopter. Kudala Sangama is an important pilgrimage of Lingayat sect, one the major dominant communities of Karnataka. The place has the Aikya Mantapa of the founder of the 12th century AD social reformer and the founder of Lingayat sect Basaveshwara. The Congress leader will pay his obeisance to Sangamanatha temple and the Aikya Linga. He will also participate in the Basava Jayanti celebration organised by the Utsava Samiti of Basava Mantapa. Gandhi will then participate in Jana Samparka' (public contact) and address people in Vijayapura at Shivaji Circle. On Monday afternoon, the former Congress president will intera

PM Modi to address public rally in Karnataka on April 30 ahead of polls

A party leader said that the BJP is aiming at winning more seats in certain parts of the state where it does not enjoy a significant stronghold

Rahul Gandhi represents 'laziest type of politics': Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Rahul Gandhi represents the laziest type of politics of making bizarre allegations and promises without any intention to improve people's lives, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Saturday, days after the Congress leader created a ripple by pitching for caste census and pledged a slew of sops in Karnataka. He also expressed confidence that the rebellion of some key BJP leaders in Karnataka will not come in the way of the incumbent party winning its first-ever majority in the coming assembly polls. He said state BJP leaders have accepted the generational change after the "brave" decision of fielding 74 first-time candidates in the May 10 elections. The BJP has come to be identified with the state's future, while the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) symbolise the lazy, entitled and exploitative politics of the past, Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, told PTI in an interview. With Rahul Gandhi making a slew of promises, including allowances for the unemploy

CBI conducts searches at TMC MLA's premises in West Bengal, Karnataka

Documents recovered during searches are being scrutinised

Karnataka polls: BJP candidate Ratna Mamani's nomination papers accepted

The nomination papers of BJP's Saundatii Yellamma constituency candidate Ratna Anand Mamani for the May 10 Karnataka Assembly election was accepted on Saturday after a thorough scrutiny by the election officials owing to objections raised by the opponents including Congress. Ratna, who is wife of former deputy speaker of the Karnataka Assembly late Anand Mamani, said the objection by the Congress candidate was rejected after closely scrutinising the application. "I have got a favourable judgment to contest the Assembly election. I request the people of my constituency to bless me in the coming days," Ratna told reporters. The BJP candidate said that she was not frightened after the objection, saying that she never committed anything wrong. "When the opponents cannot win, they resort to these low level conspiracies," Ratna alleged. Accusing her opponents, she said those who created trouble for her should come face-to-face to fight in the election. Ratna's lawyer said there could ha