Despite heat, Karnataka Phase-3 polls records 70.41 per cent voting

BENGALURU: Despite the maximum day temperature touching 45 degrees Celsius in some segments, 14 constituencies in the state recorded a voter turnout of 70.41%, as tabulated till 11.17 pm on Tuesday in the Phase - 3 Lok Sabha elections. According to election officials, the overall voting percentage in Karnataka was69.96,better than the national average of 67.40. IMD officials had issued a heatwave alert for most parts of Karnataka, including the 14 constituencies that went to polls on Tuesday. The maximum temperature in Gulbarga and Raichur constituencies was around 45 degrees Celsius. In Koppal, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag, Bellary, Bidar and Yadgir constituencies, it was around 43 degrees Celsius. Election and IMD officials said despite the harsh weather, the voter turnout in Phase-3 elections was excellent. The voter turnout in Phase-2 elections was 69.56%. Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena said the overall voter turnout for Phase-3 was better compared to Phase-2 elections, given the weather conditions Chikkodi sees highest voter turnout Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Majok Kumar Meena because of the poor turnout in Bengalurus three urban constituencies, the overall percentage dropped in Phase-2 elections. The constituencies that went to polls in Phase-3 in the state have no metropolitan cities. Hence, the overall turnout was good, he added. In Bellary, election officials Lakshmi Devi and Ravichandra were rushed to hospital after they suffered low blood pressure. According to doctors, it was due to heatwave. Meena said despite the ban on using mobile phones inside polling booths, incidents of people voting, videographing and posting it on social media were reported. Details were being collected from polling officials and action will be taken accordingly, he added. Many politicians, including All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi exercised their franchise. Padma Shri awardee and poll icon Manjamma Jogatti also exercised her franchise. Lok Sabha elections ended in Karnataka on Tuesday. Of the 93 constituencies that went to polls, 14 are from Karnataka. At 9am, the voter turnout was just 9.45%. This made the election officials a little apprehensive as they expected a huge turnout during morning hours, given the weather conditions. The turnout increased to 24.48% at 11am, giving the officials some hope. It rose to 41.59% at 1.30pm and then to 54.20% at 3pm. At 5pm, the turnout was 66.05%. Highest and lowest The highest voter turnout of76.99% was recorded in Chikkodi constituency and the lowest of 61.73% in Gulbarga, the home constituency of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Uttara Kannada, with the least number of voters (16,41,156), recorded 73.52%.

Completion of pending projects is priority, says YSRC's Ramaiah

Kurnool: Kurnool city mayor B.Y. Ramaiah, contesting from the Kurnool Lok Sabha constituency on the ruling YSRC ticket, exudes confidence about his victory. A civil engineering graduate with a postgraduate degree in law, Ramaiah feels the Kurnool area is highly underdeveloped, plagued by issues like drinking and irrigation water scarcity and lack of employment opportunities. He pointed out that annually nearly 60 per cent of agricultural labour and small farmers migrate to areas like Hyderabad, Guntur, Bellary, Chennai and Bangalore in search of livelihoods. His primary agenda is to alleviate the plight of people, especially farmers, from severe drought conditions, and create job opportunities locally. His promises include construction of irrigation projects, such as Vedavathi and Nagaradona, to address water scarcity issues. He says he has already initiated the establishment of a tomato processing unit at a cost of 12 crores near Pathikonda, which will boost the local economy.

Karnataka Records Impressive 70% Voter Turnout in LS Polls

Karnataka Records Impressive 70% Voter Turnout in LS Polls Voting was held on Tuesday in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka and a turnout with over 70 per cent was recorded, as the Congress and the BJP locked horns again on the electoral battleground in less than a fortnight. Poll officials said that as per figures available till 10.53 pm, an estimated 70.03 per cent of voters cast their ballots. ''This is tentative. It will vary slightly based on the detailed reports of the PRO (presiding officer),'' an official said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the same 14 segments had recorded a turnout of 68.43 per cent. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. Polling in the other 14 seats was held on April 26, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The constituencies which went to polls earlier, including those in state capital Bengaluru, witnessed a turnout of 69.56 per cent. ''No violence was reported. The second phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state was peaceful,'' Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena told PTI. Of the 14 segments that went to polls on Tuesday, the highest turnout of 76.47 per cent was recorded in Chikkodi, followed by 76.23 per cent in Davangere. The lowest turnout of 61.81 per cent was recorded in Raichur. A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- were in the fray for this phase which covered mostly the state's northern districts. There were more than 2.59 crore eligible voters and 28,269 polling stations. Tuesday's elections witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP in these segments. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its NDA alliance partner -- the BJP. The segments in northern districts where elections were held are Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating the Congress and the JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state back then. Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections, the Congress appeared determined to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha polls, while Karnataka is the most important state for the BJP in south India as it is only here that it had held power in the past. Davangere saw the highest number of 30 candidates in the fray, followed by 23 in Shimoga while Raichur had the lowest at eight contestants. Former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Balgaum), Union ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar) -- all from BJP; Congress' Geetha Shivrajkumar (Shimoga) -- wife of actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former CM S Bangarappa, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga), were among the prominent names in the fray. Also in the contest were MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, party's suspended leader and former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa -- both from Shimoga, former speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and ex-minister B Sreeramulu of BJP from Uttara Kannada and Bellary respectively and retired IAS officer G Kumar Naik of Congress from Raichur among others. Stakes are high for several ministers in this phase with their children in fray. Sons of Ministers Laxmi Hebbalkar and Eshwar Khandre - Mrinal Ravindra Hebbalkar and Sagar Khandre - contested from Belgaum and Bidar respectively, while daughters of Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Shivanand Patil - Priyanka Jarkiholi and Samyukta Patil- are in contention in Chikkodi and Bagalkot respectively. Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of Minister S S Mallikarjun and daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is in the fray from Davangere. Veteran BJP leader and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa was among the early voters on Tuesday, accompanied by his sons -- B Y Raghavendra, BJP candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha segment, and B Y Vijayendra, the party's state president. ''Out of 28 Lok Sabha seats, according to me we (BJP) are going to win at least 25 to 26 seats. The atmosphere is very good. Wherever we go people say Modi, Modi, it is going to have its own effect,'' Yediyurappa said after voting. The Lok Sabha poll results will have its impact on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister S K Shivakumar, Vijayendra said. ''Congress is under the illusion of winning more than 20 seats based on their guarantees. They will face a shock on the day of counting on June 4. People have more trust in Modi's permanent guarantees than in Congress' temporary guarantees,'' he added. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge cast his vote in Kalaburagi, accompanied by his wife Radhabai Kharge. The Congress will win in Karnataka with a thumping majority and there is no doubt about it, he said, adding, ''Things are good, good reports are coming from everywhere. Alliance partners (INDI Alliance) are getting strength in this third phase (nationally). Definitely in this phase too we will get good support from the people.'' Meanwhile, the Shorapur Assembly segment in Yadgir district which went for bypoll recorded 66.72 per cent voter turnout. The bypoll is necessitated due to the death of Congress MLA Raja Venkatappa Naik last month.

Summer heat seems a slight deterrent to voter turnoutin Karnataka

BENGALURU: The rising temperatures seems a slight deterrent for people voting in 14 Parliamentary Constituencies of Karnataka in Phase-3 elections. As of 1.30 pm, the voter turnout stood at 41.59%. Voting at various poll stations in Karnataka had started at 7 am and till 11 am the turnout was 24. 48% till. It was 9.45% till 9 am. As per data from the office of the chief Electoral Officer Karnataka, the highest voter turnout was in Chikkodi -45.69%, followed by Shimoga--44.98%. The election officials said all measures have been taken for the safety of voters to beat the summer heat. Sufficient shade, water, medicines and juices or other liquids have been arranged for hydration. Each polling booth is equipped with ambulances and health centres in case of emergency. A total number of2,59,52,958 voters are eligible to vote in the Phase-3 elections that will decide the fate of 227 candidates. Officials in the office of Chief Electoral Officer Karnataka (CEO) have taken all measures to ensure that people come in large numbers to vote before the temperatures start to rise. The election officials have also taken inputs from India Meteorological Department (IMD) on the rising temperatures as the IMD had issued a heat wave alert for most parts of North Karnataka for May 7, the polling day. The constituencies going to polls inPhase-3 elections are- Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bellary, Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bidar, Koppal, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga. The largest number of voters in Phase-3 elections are in Gulbarga parliamentary constituency- 20,98,202 and the lowest in Uttara Kannada- 16,41,156. The second largest number of voters are in Raichur- 20,10,103. There are 6,90,929 young voters, 2,29,263 voters are aged above 85 years of age and 3,43,966 voters are listed as People with Disabilities (PwD). Of the 227 candidates contesting- 206 are males and 21 are females. Nine candidates are from Bahujan Samaj Party and 14 from BJP and Congress each. 117 independent candidates are also contesting in Phase-3 elections. The highest number of candidates (30) are from Davangere constituency, followed by Shimoga (23) and Bagalkot (22). Eight candidates, each, are contesting from Bijapur and Raichur.

Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections: 42% Voter Turnout in 14 Constituencies by 1 PM

Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections: 42% Voter Turnout in 14 Constituencies by 1 PM An estimated 41.59 per cent turnout was reported at 1pm on Tuesday for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka in 14 constituencies. The polling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. Out of the 14 segments, highest turnout of 45.69 per cent was recorded in Chikkodi, followed by Shimoga 44.98 per cent, and least 38.06 per cent in Raichur. A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the second phase covering northern districts, where more than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations. The Congress and BJP are locking horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka. It's a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP in these segments. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its NDA alliance partner -- the BJP. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in the other 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26. The segments where elections are being held are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state back then.

LS Polls Phase 3: Brisk polling in northern Karnataka

Mangaluru: The Northern districts of Karnataka witnessed brisk polling since morning during the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. People were seen eagerly waiting in queues to exercise their democratic rights on Tuesday morning. According to early data, the approximate voter turnout at 11 am is 24.48 percent across the 14 constituencies that went to polls. Uttara Kannada recorded the highest turnout at 27.65 percent by 11 am. Other constituencies of North Karnataka also saw encouraging voting percentage, with figures Chikkodi registering 27.23 percent, Bellary (26.45 percent) Bagalkot (23.80 percent), Belgaum (23.91 percent), Bidar (22.33 percent), Bijapur (23.91 percent), Dharwad (24.00 percent), Gulbarga (22.64 percent), Haveri (24.24 percent), Koppal (24.64 percent) and Raichur. Long queues of voters were seen even in rural areas, reflecting the determination of citizens to exercise their right. Many candidates and senior political leaders exercised their franchise early in the day. Notable figures spotted at polling booths included AICC president and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge who voted alongside his wife Radhabai at booth number 120 in Kannada Higher Primary School, Basavanagara in Kalaburagi City. Meanwhile, his son, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, and daughter-in-law Shruthi Kharge exercised their franchise at booth number 26 in Government Higher Primary School, Gundagurthi village of Chittapura. Gulbarga candidate Radhakrishna Dodmani also cast his vote in the same booth. Former Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Haveri, Basavaraj Bommai, along with his family members, marked their ballots at Government Model Kannada Boys Higher Primary School in Shiggaon. In Bidar constituency, Congress candidate Sagar Khandre, accompanied by his father and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, and his grandfather and former Minister Bheemanna Khandre, cast their votes.

14 constituencies go to polls in Karnataka today; high-stakes battle for Kharge, BSY

BENGALURU: Fourteen Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka will go to polls on Tuesday and this is considered as a high-stakes battle for AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge as most of the seats are in North Karnataka regarded as his home turf, and former CM and Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa, whose son BY Vijayendra is state BJP president. With this, LS elections will end in Karnataka. Polling was held on April 26 for 14 other constituencies in the state. BJP and Congress leaders have campaigned extensively in the 14 constituencies amid the rising mercury levels in most parts of North Karnataka. The two parties focused on issues such as SC/ST/OBC quota, minority appeasement, PM Modis and Congress guarantees, Hubballi Neha Hiremath murder case and the latest Hassan sex scandal. Prominent among those in the fray are former CMs Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Belgaum), Union ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwant Khuba (Bidar), Yediyurappas son Raghavendra (Shivamogga), Kharges son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga SC), and former minister B Sriramulu (Bellary). The Congress has fielded Forest Minister Eshwar Khandres son Sagar Khandre (Bidar), Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkars son Mrinal Hebbalkar (Belgaum), PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholis daughter Priyanka (Chikkodi) and APMC minister Shivananda Patils daughter Samyukta (Bagalkot). Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of minister SS Mallikarjun (Congress), and Gayathri Siddeshwara, wife of MP GM Siddeshwara (BJP) are fighting for Davanagere seat. Anjali Nimbalkar of Congress is pitted against Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri of BJP in Uttara Kannada. BJPs alliance partner JDS is not contesting in Tuesdays elections. However, former CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy has campaigned extensively for BJP candidates. Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Haveri, Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga (SC), Raichur, Bellary, Koppal, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga and Davanagere go to polls on Tuesday.

Polling begins in 14 Karnataka constituencies for Lok Sabha elections

Polling begins in 14 Karnataka constituencies for Lok Sabha elections Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka began on Tuesday in 14 constituencies. Polling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the second phase covering the northern districts of the state where more than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations. The Congress and BJP are locking horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka. It's a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP in these constituencies in the northern districts. The JD(S) is not contesting these seats and is supporting its NDA alliance partner -- the BJP. The state has 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in the other 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26. The segments where elections will be held on Tuesday are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had won all these seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), who were in alliance and ruling the state back then. Speaking to PTI, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said adequate security arrangements have been made for Tuesday's polling. ''Around 1.45 lakh polling officials have been deployed across the 14 constituencies. In addition, 35,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Paramilitary forces and armed police of other states will be deployed for the polling day,'' he said. Besides this, 4,000 micro observers will also be on duty, and 17,000 polling stations will be covered by webcasting, he added. Davangere has a maximum number of 30 candidates, followed by 23 in Shimoga while Raichur has the least - eight. Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Balgaum), Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar) -- all from BJP; Congress' Geetha Shivrajkumar (Shimoga) -- wife of actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former CM S Bangarappa, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga), are among the prominent people in the fray. Also in the contest are MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, party's suspended leader and former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa -- both from Shimoga, former Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and ex- Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP from Uttara Kannada and Bellary respectively, and retired IAS officer G Kumar Naik of Congress from Raichur. Stakes are high for several Ministers in this phase with their children contesting. Sons of Ministers Laxmi Hebbalkar and Eshwar Khandre-- Mrinal Ravindra Hebbalkar and Sagar Khandre-- are contesting from Belgaum and Bidar respectively, while daughters of Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Shivanand Patil-- Priyanka Jarkiholi and Samyukta Patil respectively-- are in contention in Chikkodi and Bagalkot respectively. Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of Minister S S Mallikarjun and daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is contesting from Davangere.

BJP and Congress Lock Horns in Crucial Polls Northern Karnataka

MANGALURU: May 7th marks a crucial electoral showdown in the Northern Karnataka region, with 14 constituencies, including Kalyana-Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka, heading to the polls. The electoral arena is set for a fierce contest between the Congress and BJP, both vying to secure significant seats and bolster their respective standings at the Center. Amidst this electoral fervor, several constituencies are poised for particularly intriguing battles. The BJP is primarily focusing on the image of Modi and showcasing developmental initiatives, including the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, in its bid to secure votes. Meanwhile, the Congress party is relying on its guarantee schemes and leveraging the anti-incumbency sentiment as key strategies for electoral success. The 14 constituencies slated for elections tomorrow encompass Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, and Davangere. In the 2019 election, BJP had won all these seats. This electoral spectacle features a noteworthy lineup of candidates, including two Union Ministers, two former Chief Ministers, and the children of three Karnataka Cabinet Ministers, alongside the son-in-law of the AICC president. The districts have witnessed a flurry of political activity, with both state and central leaders canvassing extensively for their candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with leaders like Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and Vijayendra, has spearheaded vigorous campaigns, while Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge have mobilized their forces with equal fervor. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM and KPCC president DK Shivakumar have strategically shifted focus to the North Karnataka region post the conclusion of elections in South and Coastal Karnataka on April 26. Of particular interest is the Gulbarga constituency in the Kalyana Karnataka region, where sitting MP Dr. Umesh Jadhav locks horns with Congress candidate Radhakrishna. Radhakrishna, who is the son-in-law of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, is at the heart of a political battleground. With the BJP determined to unseat the Congress candidate on the home turf of the AICC president, the Congress has launched an extensive campaign to reclaim its stronghold. Mallikarjun Kharge himself has undertaken numerous tours across Kalyana Karnataka, leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to bolster his party's influence in the region. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi is fighting against Congress candidate Vinod Asooti in Dharwad. Lingayat seer Dingaleshwar Swamiji's vocal opposition to Joshi's candidacy further underscores the intricacies of local dynamics, leaving people curious about the seer's followers' voting patterns. In Bidar, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhagwanth Khuba, seeks reelection against Congress' youthful contender Sagar Khandre, son of Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre, amplifying the clash of political legacies. Similarly, in Chikkodi, Priyankar Satish Jarkiholi, daughter of PWD Belagavi district witnesses familial and political confrontations, with PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi's daughter Priyankar Satish Jarkiholi stepping into the electoral arena for the first time against BJP's sitting MP Annasaheb Jolle in Chikkodi. Former CM and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar squares off against Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkars son Mrinal Hebbalkar in Belgaum. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's bid for an MP seat from Haveri faces a challenge from Congress' Anandswamy Gaddadevaramath, while Samyukta Patil, daughter of Agriculture Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil, confronts BJP's PC Gaddigaudar who has been winning the seat for BJP since 2004. JD(S), which is in alliance with BJP in Karnataka, is not contesting in any of the 14 constituencies where the election is scheduled on Tuesday. However, JD(S) state president and former CM HD Kumaraswamy, along with his leaders, has been campaigning for the BJP candidates in the North Karnataka region.

Bellary Lok Sabha polls 2024: Date, schedule, result, party-wise candidates and other key details

The Bellary Lok Sabha constituency, formed post-2008 delimitation, is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. With eight Assembly segments, Congress holds most seats, while BJP and JD(S) have one each. Elections for 2024 are set for May 7 (Phase 3) with results on June 4. Notable candidates include B. Sriramulu (BJP) and E Thukaram (INC). In 2019, BJP's Y Devendrappa won with a significant margin of 55707 votes.

Bellary Constituency of Karnataka Lok Sabha Election 2024: Date of voting, result, candidates list, main parties, schedule

Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections: BJP, Congress Again Set for Battle in 14 Seats; Check Key Candidates

The segments where elections will be held on Tuesday are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga

Karnataka's 14 Lok Sabha Seats Witness Intense Battle Between BJP and Congress

Karnataka's 14 Lok Sabha Seats Witness Intense Battle Between BJP and Congress The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka, as the stage is set for the second phase of elections in the 14 remaining Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday. It is going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Parliamentary segments in the northern districts. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner -- the BJP. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26. A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the second phase. More than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations where voting will take place between 7 am to 6 pm. The segments where elections will be held on Tuesday are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then. Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections last year, the Congress now appears determined to put up a strong show. Karnataka is the most important state for the BJP in south India as it's only here that it has held power in the past. Speaking to PTI, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said adequate security arrangements have been made for Tuesday's polling. ''Around 1.45 lakh polling officials have been deployed across the 14 constituencies. In addition, 35,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Paramilitary forces and armed police of other states will be deployed for the polling day,'' he said. Besides this, 4,000 micro-observers will also be on duty and 17,000 polling stations will be covered by webcasting, he added. Davangere has the maximum number of 30 candidates, followed by 23 in Shimoga and Raichur has the least number - eight. Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Balgaum), Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar) -- all from BJP; Congress' Geetha Shivrajkumar (Shimoga) -- wife of actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former CM S Bangarappa and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga), are among the prominent names in the fray. Also in the contest are MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, suspended party leader and former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa -- both from Shimoga, former Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and ex-Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP from Uttara Kannada and Bellary respectively and retired IAS officer G Kumar Naik of Congress from Raichur. Stakes are high for several Ministers in this phase with their children in fray. Sons of Ministers Laxmi Hebbalkar and Eshwar Khandre - Mrinal Ravindra Hebbalkar and Sagar Khandre - are contesting from Belgaum and Bidar respectively, while daughters of Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Shivanand Patil -Priyanka Jarkiholi and Samyukta Patil- are in contention in Chikkodi and Bagalkot respectively. Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of Minister S S Mallikarjun and daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is in the fray from Davangere. The Congress' performance in the elections, especially in the second phase which covers almost all Lingayat-dominated districts, is crucial, as the party did not win one of them in 2019, and to also check whether the grand old party has managed to retain the support of a section of Lingayats -- considered as the BJP's core vote-base -- which seemed to have somewhat shifted towards it in the 2023 Assembly polls. The Lok Sabha election is being seen as a big test of sorts for Congress state unit chief D K Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the Assembly term. The stakes are also high for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as victory in this election is seen as key to strengthening his hands, analysts say. It is also seen as a kind of a ''litmus test'' for state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, who has the onerous task of helping the party retain its supremacy in the Lok Sabha polls, by regaining its traditional Lingayat vote-base. Ensuring a BJP sweep is paramount for the son of veteran leader B S Yediyurappa, to consolidate his position and silence critics who have questioned his selection to the post, overlooking seniors and seasoned hands. The ruling Congress is mostly banking on the implementation of its populist five guarantee schemes while the BJP seems to be leveraging the ''Modi factor'' to the hilt.

Karnataka: 2.59 cr voters will decide fate of 227 netas tomorrow

BENGALURU: A total of 2,59,52,958 voters will on Tuesday decide the fate of 227 candidates in Phase-3 of Lok Sabha elections in 14 parliamentary constituencies of Kitur and Kalyana-Karnataka and Malnad regions of the state. Elections for the Shorapur Assembly constituency too will be held on May 7. Of the six candidates contesting, one each is from BJP and Congress, while four are independents. Polling will be from 7 am till 6 pm. The biggest challenge for Election Commission officials and voters is combating the heatwave. While some political representatives have requested the Election Commission to extend voting beyond 6 pm, officials said no decision has been taken yet. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe heatwave alert for North Karnataka regions where the temperatures could go up to 45-46 degrees Celsius on the day of the polls. Officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, said regular bulletins from IMD are being obtained and accordingly, all precautionary measures have been taken. Arrangements for sufficient water, fans and shade have been made. Additional CEO Venkatesh Kumar R told The New Indian Express that each polling booth has been mapped to primary health centres, referral hospitals and district hospitals. The district administration has ensured all health centres have sufficient ambulances and medical staff on standby. Also, each polling booth will have an ASHA worker or Auxiliary Nurse Midwife worker, a medical kit with ORS and other supplies. Election officials have also allowed parties to keep ORS and other medical facilities at their counters. But they have been directed not to influence or bribe voters with it. To ensure fair elections and secrecy while voting, the CEOs office has directed that no mobile phones will be allowed while casting votes. Returning officers have ensured that a separate tray or counter will be available for voters to keep their phones before voting. No smart watches are also allowed inside the voting area. Of the 14 constituencies, Bijapur and Gulbarga are Schedule Caste reserved, Raichur and Bellary are Schedule Tribe reserved and the remaining -- Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bidar, Koppal, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Shimoga -- are general category. The largest number of voters in this phase is in Gulbarga constituency at 20,98,202 and the lowest is in Uttara Kannada at 16,41,156. There are 6,90,929 young voters, 2,29,263 are aged above 85 and 3,43,966 are listed as People with Disabilities. Of the 227 candidates, 206 are men and 21 women. BJP and Congress have 14 candidates each, Bahujan Samaj Party nine and 117 are independents. The highest number of candidates (30) is from Davangere, followed by Shimoga (23) and Bagalkot (22). Eight candidates each are contesting from Bijapur and Raichur. To increase the voter turnout and help people find their booth, election officials have printed a QR code behind each voting slip, which when scanned will direct the voter to her/his booth using GPS technology. The CEOs office has also launched the Chunavane app, which can be downloaded from Playstore. It gives the live status of the polling booth -- number of people in queue, parking facility and other details. Special theme-based booths - like Sakhi, youth and PwD -- have been set up. Signages have been put in all booths for voters to easily identify their voting rooms. In Phase-2, two parliamentary constituencies of Bangalore Rural and Mysore-Kodagu had 100 per cent webcasting. But in Phase-3, no such special arrangement has been made. Webcasting, however, is being done in 60% of the booths. Over 1.90 lakh polling officials will be deployed on election duty at 28,269 polling booths. Also 65 companies and 50,000 police personnel have been deployed. Election officials have also asked voters to use the Saksham app, in case voters need special facilities like wheelchairs, assistance and others. Senior citizens or specially abled too can opt for pick up and drop facility. Officials said ramps, wheelchairs, Braille, assistance for hearing impaired, sufficient lighting, sign language experts, assistants for specially abled, washrooms, water facility, seating arrangement and other essentials have been arranged at each booth. Unlike in Phase-2, the fight between the two major parties -- BJP and Congress -- will be close and tough in this phase.

Silent period for Phase-3 poll sets in from May 5

BENGALURU: All sorts of loud political campaigning using loudspeakers, microphones, banners and mega rallies will end at 6 pm on Sunday (May 5). After which political parties and candidates can only carry out door-to-door campaigning. This is because 14 parliamentary constituencies -- Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga -- are going to the polls on May 7. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka (CEO) said that from 6 pm on Sunday, state borders in districts going to the polls will also be sealed. Additional CEO Venkatesh Kumar R told The New Sunday Express that from the silent period till the polls are over, the sale of liquor is not permitted. Liquor cannot be brought from other states also. As per Election Commission directions, liquor outlets in other states falling within 5km of the Karnataka border too should remain closed. Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Ballari, Uttara Kannada, Belagavi and Vijayapura share borders with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Maharashtra. The CEOs office also requested state governments of neighbouring states to give all employees and labourers paid holiday on May 7 to allow them to vote. The state government has declared a general holiday that day for all government offices, educational institutions and public sector undertakings falling within these constituencies. Also, business enterprises, industries and other institutions have been directed to sanction a paid holiday to allow daily wagers and permanent staff working with them to vote. Kumar said that many people in North Karnataka work in Maharashtra, Hyderabad and other places. The district administrations were directed to call them and persuade them to come to their respective constituencies to vote. The election officials said that no opinion polls are permitted. Restrictions on opinion polls were imposed from Phase-1 elections. There is a ban from April 19 to 6.30 pm on June 1, Kumar said. The election officials have also directed all parties and candidates to ensure that no one except residents remain in the constituency.

Sriramulu plays sympathy card in fight for survival against 'humble, accessible' rival

Bellary Lok Sabha contest: Modi vs Congress. Sriramulu, Tukaram key. Sonia Gandhi defeated Sushma Swaraj. Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar campaign. Reddy's party merges with BJP. Modi supports Sriramulu.

There is sympathy for me after I lost the assembly elections

B Sriramulu, BJP candidate for Bellary, aims Lok Sabha return with support from PM Modi and Janardhana Reddy. Despite assembly loss, his rapport and infrastructural works set him apart. Plans include addressing illegal mining and boosting the jeans industry.

Modi fears washout of NDA in Lok Sabha polls, says Congress

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh says Mr Kharge is in touch with leaders of all parties in the INDIA bloc to give structure to ensure closer coordination in the alliance. (Image source:Twitter) AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh says Mr Kharge is in touch with leaders of all parties in the INDIA bloc to give structure to ensure closer coordination in the alliance. (Image source:Twitter) New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in fear mongering as the BJP-led NDA faces washout in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls. The grand old party also criticised the Prime Minister for his political support to JD(S) Hassan candidate Prajwal Revanna, accused of sexually abusing women, and questioned Modis policy on Mahila Samman. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, Why did Modi campaign for the Hassan video perpetrator? Is the BJP washing machine at full spin for Janardhan Reddy? Instead of lying and fear mongering, these are the questions he should answer. Ramesh said the Hassan video has shocked the conscience of the nation. Prajwal Revanna, a sitting JD(S-anghi) MP, has been accused of creating thousands of sexually explicit videos of women. The videos were then distributed by pen drive across the district, much to the distress of the victims, some of whom have attempted to take their own lives. The fact that these videos existed was known, an ex-MLA from Hassan had even written to his own party leadership stating that they shouldnt support this MP. Rather than prioritising justice for the women, the NDA had systematically suppressed the scandal till polling. Why has Modi, so often delivering platitudes on Mahila Samman and Nari Shakti, endorsed Prajwal Revanna despite being aware of his crimes? Ramesh asked. He also accused the BJP of giving clean chits to the accused in various scams and scandals. On March 25th, Bellary Janardhan Reddy, accused in a `35,000 crore scam and with 20 criminal cases against him, joined the BJP. Is this another instance of the BJP washing machine slowing down or exempting BJP leaders from corruption investigations? Why did the Prime Minister take in a leader under investigation for corruption into the party? Ramesh asked. Meanwhile, responding to Modis attacks on the Congress over its leader Sam Pitrodas inheritance tax comments, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said the Prime Minister has imagined a Congress manifesto written by one of his ghost speech writers and he should debate the real issues included in the document. The Prime Minister continues to discover and read in the Congress manifesto words and sentences that are not there! He has imagined a Congress manifesto written by one of his ghost speech writers The phrase inheritance tax does not occur anywhere in the manifesto, wrote Chidambaram on X.

Six RTC passengers injured seriously

Anantapur: At least six passengers of an APSRTC bus belonging to the Kalyandurg depot suffered serious injuries when the bus overturned near Mallikarjunapalli in Kalyandurg mandal of the district on Friday evening. Kalyandurg circle inspector Harinath said the bus with 50 passengers had been coming from Bellary district headquarters of Karnataka to Kalyandurg. When the bus reached Mallikarjunapalle. the driver noticed a buffalo suddenly crossing the road. While trying to avoid the animal, the driver lost control, leading to the bus falling on the left side of the road. Six passengers suffered serious injuries and have been shifted to the Kalyandurg hospital.

Karnataka Election Commission Files 189 Major Election Violation Cases

Karnataka Election Commission Files 189 Major Election Violation Cases As Karnataka gears up for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26, the Election Commission on Wednesday said all the polling stations in the Bangalore Rural and Mysore constituencies will be webcast. As of now, a total of 189 cases have been booked against political parties or candidates for major violations under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), they said. Addressing a press conference here, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said 1.4 lakh polling officials will be on duty at the 30,602 polling stations across the 14 constituencies which are going for polls in the first phase on Friday. Besides them, 5,000 micro observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police force of other States will also be deployed for security at these polling stations, he said. ''All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency will be 100 per cent webcast. This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double central parliamentary force for the Bangalore Rural Constituency. Seven companies of central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22,'' Meena said. Out of the 30,602 polling stations --- 19,701 polling stations will be webcast while 1,370 will be covered via CCTVs, he said. Out of the total 189 cases booked against political parties or candidates 23 are related to hate speeches, 28 related to inducement, and 15 related to misuse of religious places among other MCC violations, the official said. Listing out the alleged MCC violations by political parties, he said for hate speech, 12 cases have been booked against BJP or its candidates, nine cases against Congress and two cases against JD(S). In connection with inducement, eight cases have been filed against BJP, nine against Congress, three against JD(S) and eight against independent candidates or unrecognised political parties. For misuse of religious places, eight cases have been booked against BJP, six against Congress and one against an independent candidate. For using children for canvassing, seven cases each have been booked against BJP and Congress and one against an independent candidate, he added. The 14 segments facing polls in the first phase are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur and Kolar. There are a total of 2,88,19,342 electors in these constituencies -- 1,44,28,099 male, 1,43,88,176 female and 3,067 third gender, according to the poll body. Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Shimoga will go to polls in the second phase on May 7. In these constituencies, there are a total of 2,59,52,958 electors 1,29,83,406 are male, 1,29,67,607 are female and 1,945 are third gender -- and 28,269 polling stations.

Tanker Driver Killed in Fiery Kurnool Crash

Compared to the last year, road accidents have decreased in the Kamareddy district this year, said police. Last year, 516 road accident cases, including 243 deaths were reported and this year, 221 persons died in 496 mishaps. (DC Image) Compared to the last year, road accidents have decreased in the Kamareddy district this year, said police. Last year, 516 road accident cases, including 243 deaths were reported and this year, 221 persons died in 496 mishaps. (DC Image) Kurnool: A tragic road accident claimed the life of a truck driver on Sunday night near Chinnahothur village in Aspari mandal. Naseer, a 35-year-old driver from Haryana, was reportedly speeding when his tanker, carrying cement mixed crushing stones from Bellary to Hyderabad, collided with a stationary truck on the national highway. The impact triggered a fire that engulfed the tanker. Despite attempts to escape the inferno, Naseer was unable to exit the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries. Firefighters arrived swiftly and extinguished the blaze. The Aspari circle inspector, Hanumatappa, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is underway.

INTERVIEW | Opposition doesnt have any reliable data on joblessness: Nirmala Sitharaman

Nirmala Sitharaman has not had an easy time as Indias finance minister six months into her stint, the COVID pandemic hit India and the world. Two full financial years thereafter went in keeping the economy out of the negative in the face of a global recessionary crisis. Sitharamans hand was at the wheel all during the grim battle that kept Indias macro-economy above troubled waters and then into a rebound, with the GDP coming out one of the most creditable among major economies. But the strain of uneven, jobless growth was being felt down the line and has become the prime focus of the Oppositions 2024 election campaign. In an interaction with TNIE Editor Santwana Bhattacharya and Business Editor Dipak Mondal , Sitharaman takes all the hard questions on the economy, responds with her usual panache on the controversies, and discusses the BJPs prospects in southern India. Excerpts: Economic issues usually do not have much resonance in elections, unless cast in simplified relatable terms. Its the emotive issues which connect and rouse people to vote. This time, the opposition is focusing on issues like unemployment and inflation. Do you think it will get traction? I think the opposition is just using those issues to get some talking points. Strictly speaking, this government, since 2014, has constantly kept inflation within the RBI range. Only once or twice, it might have crossed that. So, the data does not support the opposition claims. The mechanisms are all there for you to see. The supply side problems were addressed by a group of ministers who constantly made sure, in advance, that the commodities we dont produce were imported -- edible oil is a classic case, also the various pulses. Some agricultural exports were giving great income for the farmer -- whether it was onion, or even rice and barley, wheat and sugar. But when needed, we took the decision to ban exports. But the opposition has raised the issue of unemployment in a very consistent manner Yes, but what the opposition fails to understand is that there is a complete reset in our labour market. Work has been going on to expand the areas from where data on jobs can be collected. It is a fact that in India we do not have data which is reflective adequately of the labour situation on the ground. We collect data on formal employment, but formal employment doesnt constitute a large chunk of all employment in the country. The informal sector is today widening its base, and more and more new jobs are coming there. The gig economy is one of the biggest in-your-face examples of a sector which has grown exponentially, but on which data is not adequately catching up. There are some areas where (this new) data is being captured. An e-shram portal has been launched, where people can register with a trade specified. Another example of data coming through a different source on the informal sector is where we have launched schemes, giving money through banks for beneficiaries to expand their business or put some investment into the business. Under PMs Swanidhi, you get data of people in the urban informal sector people who are vendors in the streets. Similarly, we look at where the GST returns are coming from, whether it is to track demand for a particular product, or the MSMEs that are supplying them. Data is also coming from the GeM portal the number of informal or small MSMEs who are getting registered in the GEM portal. So, it is one thing for us to look at the same set of numbers coming from the same set of sources and say jobs are not growing. On jobs, I dont think the opposition has got any data which is reliable. I am quite happy the opposition is raising the issue, and I am quite willing to give an answer. The BJP has been strongly focusing on electoral success in the South. It has a history of being largely thwarted in the region, barring Karnataka. Is that changing this time? Dont accuse me of doing whataboutery, but I will start with a whataboutery. You keep asking us why the BJP never intends to solve that issue of there being just the one fortress that we have in Karnataka. Tell me one place where Congress can enter now, anywhere in this country. I come from Tamil Nadu, I am married in Andhra Pradesh. Where is Congress there? If I remember correctly, it was 1964 when Kamaraj was the last of Tamil Nadus Congress CMs. After that a national party like the Congress, even under Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, could not set foot in Tamil Nadu. They played second fiddle to the DMK or once with the AIADMK. Even today, their candidates cannot even function without DMK support. Would you ask the Congress why they could not set foot in Tamil Nadu? You ask this question to the BJP, which is definitely showing signs of gradually expanding into all areas. Is the Congress there in Andhra? Has Congress formed the government in Odisha? It is a very important question for our democracy to ask why a national party like the Congress today is only a second fiddle to state parties. India needs a good, solid national party as opposition and the Congress is failing this country on that. The Congress is in power in Karnataka and Telangana.. You can always offer this kind of piecemeal logic. We were also in power in Karnataka. And then we also had some MPs from Tamil Nadu...you can always do this balancing act. I have asked you a question which is more pertinent to our democracy than your enthusiasm to prove the BJP is getting rejected in Tamil Nadu. No state rejects any party. From the Jan Sangh days, there have been (our) people in Tamil Nadu. Pon Radhakrishnan was elected from Kanyakumari, no less. And he was a minister under Vajpayee and again under Modi from 2014 to 2019. So let us not revel in this idea about the BJP getting rejected somewhere. Pound the Congress if you have the courage, they are losing one after the other in states. It is becoming a fringe party, going along with people who shout separatist slogans, and theyre happy to be there. What a shame for a party which claims to have fought for independence. So, among the southern states, where do you think is the fight heating up most? I think each of the states presents a different challenge to the BJP somewhere youre just entering, somewhere else youre trying to reclaim what political presence we have or had. The big thing about the BJP is that it tries newer ways -- either offering a different set of candidates, or using old stalwarts, and making sure that we articulate the discourse which we are likely to take forward in that state. So, whether it is Andhra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu or Kerala, you have every possible option. The contest between Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram is a very interesting fight. Similarly, Suresh Gopi, who lost in 2019 (from Thrissur) but kept doing his work on the ground, without any noise. Sobha Surendran (Alappuzha) is another one of our really committed hardcore workers. Anil Antonys candidature (Pathanamthitta), I think, has so much potential. And again, K. Surendran in Wayanad, a veteran BJP leader. Kerala has gone to the court on the issue of State-Centre relations, so has Karnataka. The opposition has been saying that the Centre is showing a stepmotherly attitude towards states run by the opposition. What is your view on this? First of all, I cannot say that states should not go to the Supreme Court, they are well within their rights to go to the SC, and I am happy to provide any data that they want from the finance ministry. And this, I am sure, is true for any department in this government because we are led by a prime minister whos been a chief minister, and who during UPA had seen what stepmotherly treatment is. With that experience, Mr Modi, being in the Centre now as PM, knows that unless states get money in time, Indias development will be affected. You may have political differences, fight it out during polls, but theres no business for any government to curtail the development of any state. I had said this at a public meeting in Kerala much before Kerala went to court that I will put all the data out right there in the public meeting, which is what I did, and said I will equally be happy and ready to put the data before the Supreme Court, if they choose to go. We were happy to show the records. And the court has not told us we are wrong in the Kerala case. The court didnt say we have to give an interim relief. The court has of course referred it to a constitutional bench to see about borrowing etc. One other thing about Kerala every state is allowed, according to the FRBM Act, to borrow to the level of 3% of the GSDP without any conditions. This is applicable to all states. What happened about the borrowings they did outside the budget is that CAG came down heavily not just on Kerala, there were other states, too. The treatment offered to Kerala was the treatment offered to all those on which CAG had come down heavily saying that you borrowed from outside the budget, and that has to be reconciled. In the reconciliation process, they were given four years to return that money back to the system. In fact, much before Kerala went to court, I myself called the finance minister of Kerala and told him if in that particular year they are really in a difficult position, we could extend the reconciliation by another year. Not a special favour to Kerala, but offered to all such similarly placed states. The court took cognizance of that as well. Coming to Karnataka, I would like to point out two-three things before I get to this particular point. There has been some totally baseless commentary by the ruling dispensation to the effect that Karnataka was better off prior to GST, in that their indirect tax collection was growing at 15%. Data shows that pre-GST revenue growth for Karnataka was around 11.60% CAGR and post-GST revenue growth is similar at 11.35% despite COVID, which affected two financial years (2020-21 & 2021-22). So the Karnataka government is completely misleading the people with false data. The second allegation is that compensation cess dues of Karnataka were not being given. There are no unpaid compensation dues to Karnataka, Rs 1.06 lakh has been given to the state between July 2017 and June 2022. On their grievance that Karnataka pays one rupee, but gets only 29 paise...so I asked this question in reverse in Karnataka. The highest taxes in Karnataka are paid by the Bengaluru city. Can Bengaluru say we pay this much, give me the total money and leave Chitradurga, Bellary, etc without any money. So these are misleading, separatist kinds of arguments. The last grievance is that the Centre is collecting cess and surcharges and that should also be put into the divisible pool. Cess and surcharges are collected as per the Constitution, over and above the tax collected. And that money also goes to states. So this is a vicious way of misinforming the people. As for the recent case in the Supreme Court which, if I understand correctly, is about NDRF funds which have to come to the drought-hit areas of the state. The matter has been sent to the Election Commission. If they clear it, the high-level committee will meet and the money will be released. There is concern in the South that they are going to get penalised for performing better, being more industrialised, for progressing better than other states. How do you address this concern? These are very legitimate concerns. I have no differences here. I also know that some distinct progress has been made in some areas, and I agree they should not get disincentivised for that. But thats not the business of the central government, thats the business of the Finance Commission. If the Finance Commission gives me a recommendation, its my duty to obey. So voice those concerns, I repeat, legitimate concerns, with the Finance Commission, rather than politicising the issue. Whats your view on the Congress manifesto, especially the parts about the economy? They are talking about a single-slab GST, which is present in some other countries. Is that implementable here? I am really amused that they want to suggest improvements in the GST. People who were calling it Gabbar Singh Tax, and saying they would throw it out when they come to power, are now saying they will have to amend it and calling it GST 2.0. On the issue of single (GST) rates, Arun Jaitley Ji, finance minister at the time of introduction of GST, had openly said that in a country like India, with so many differences in levels of economic well-being, a single rate may not be fair. I am not arguing against it at the moment. But very clearly, what Jaitley ji said then holds true even now. On the economy, I am not sure that they have taken a complete picture to be commenting on it. They are fiscally flamboyant and saying they will pay Rs 1 lakh to every (poor) family, they should explain where they are going to get the money from. Their approach to the economy is more knee-jerk, not well-thought through. You mention economic disparities in the country. Recently, the Inequality Lab report termed the last 10 years as Billionaire Raj, and said that inequality is at the peak in India. It is one thing to take a foreign study and say look at what is happening in India. I have my own doubts on some of these foreign studies. We are providing 80 crore people free foodgrains for the last five years, and that is continuing for the next five years, yet on the Hunger index, India is ranked below some of our neighbours -- where people who are standing in queues to get even rotis are said to be better off than us. On income disparity, the way in which we have attended to providing basic amenities, houses for all, toilets for all, safe drinking water, Swachhata Abhiyan, they have made an impact. The World Bank study says that on multi-dimensional poverty, which is what NITI Aayog assessment results also show, extreme poverty has been brought down drastically in India. Its one thing to say poverty exists while people are accumulating wealth, but we are also lifting people out of poverty. Electoral bonds have been creating headlines. How do we create transparency in electoral funding and, after the Supreme Court order, what is the plan for political funding? The Supreme Court, in its wisdom, has rejected electoral bonds. We respect it and we will have to follow the order. But electoral bonds were one step better than what went before. Earlier, there was no framework under which you were to function. At least here you purchase and redeem the bonds through a bank account. Of course, given the banking laws, and also given the way in which funding during elections happened in pre-electoral bond days, donors wanted to have confidentiality, and that was part of the law. Now, after the Supreme Court order, even those who benefited from the bonds are calling it a scam. How much of a chameleon can you be? But irrespective of which party was taking donations, there is this question of actual quid pro quo. How do you address this allegation? As far as quid pro quo is concerned, you are putting two and two together and saying this is a quid pro quo. These are monies coming from bank account to bank account. Our attempt was to clean up electoral financing. Thats why we moved to bonds, which was discussed in and approved by Parliament. Electoral funding will have to go through a lot more transparency, and on that BJP is committed. Let us come to the other very political allegation against the BJP: that it is using ED, CBI etc against members of other political parties and forcing them to join the BJP. And once they join your party, they are kind of free of those charges... People have moved from one party to another, gone back to the original party, come back to the second party they left and so on. Clean chits are not given by political parties, clean chits are given by the courts. Some parties are unable to retain their own flock, because members see no hope in their respective parties performance. They see a prime minister whos working non-stop 24/7 and a party which is energised by that kind of leadership, they think they are in the wrong place, they move out. People are getting out of family- and caste-driven parties. They see hope in the BJP because it showed how people who were pasting wall posters or working at the booth level are rising to become somebody. But what about allegations of high-handedness in dealing with the opposition bank accounts are being frozen just before the election, sitting CMs are being arrested... The first tax notice (to Congress) was sent in 2021. They did not respond, they hadnt even filed the assessment paper. All that a political party needs to do to remain out of the tax net is to file an assessment. And then you are taken to courts, everywhere people pay up, you did not pay. And accounts were not frozen, there is a lien put on the money you owe the Income Tax department to the extent that to use that money; you will have to seek the courts permission. You have not followed the rule of law or the law of the land, and you expect to be treated differently. On the question of chief ministers being arrested, eight summons were sent and yet you did not appear (before ED). Didnt the Prime Minister, then the Chief Minister, appear before the CBI just before the Gujarat elections? He went and answered all the questions. But now this has become a big deal. I think it has become a business in this country to create that kind of sympathy, victimhood and then say this government is awful. Of late there has been some criticism about Indias official data. The previous household consumption survey was not published, apparently, because data was not favourable. The census itself was not conducted. How do you do your planning and economic focusing if you dont have these basic data points? Theres no denying that data is important -- particularly that data which only the government collects, and when government collects, it collects from a large canvas, and therefore, it is necessary for policy planning, it is necessary for people to do further research on the economy. An immense amount of work is going towards building proper teams which can do this work, statistically sound work, and therefore, I expect that should be ready as soon as the new government comes into place. And I certainly reject this observation that the last consumption survey was not published because it didnt go in our favour. Thats absolutely not right. There were methodological problems. And as a result, they had to hold it.

Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls, Karnataka Police Seize Rs 5.6 Crore Cash, 106 Kg Jewellery In Bellary

Police suspect the recovery to be linked to Hawala transactions. An FIR under section 98 of the Karnataka Police Act has been registered

Video: Rs 5.6 Crore Cash Seized From Karnataka Jeweller, Cops Suspect Hawala

Rs 5.60 crore in cash, 3 kg of gold, 103 kg of jewellery, and 68 silver bars were seized by Karnataka Police in a major raid ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2024. The raid was conducted in Bellary town of Karnataka.

Siblings stave off rivalry, pick different states, parties

Brother-sister duo B Sriramulu and J Shantha, known for contrasting political views, now contesting in separate constituencies after 15 years of alternating in Bellary. Sriramulu, a former BJP minister, stands for BJP in upcoming elections, while Shantha, now representing YSRCP in Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh.

Ratna | Song - Modala Dinada Maathu

Watch the song 'Modala Dinada Maathu' from Kannada movie 'Ratna' starring Harshala Honey and Vardhan. 'Modala Dinada Maathu' is sung by Rajesh Krishnan and Shruthi Prahlada and music of the song is given by Sathish Babu. Lyrics of 'Ratna' song 'Modala Dinada Maathu' are written by Basavaraj Bellary. To know more about 'Modala Dinada Maathu' song from Harshala Honey and Vardhan starrer 'Ratna' watch the video.

Brother-sister duo to contest LS polls from different parties in Karnataka, AP

Bengaluru: In a unique twist of political fate, the brother-sister duo of B. Sriramulu and J. Shantha have ventured into the electoral arena in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, albeit in different states and from different political parties. The siblings, hailing from Bellary in Karnataka, have garnered attention for their divergent political paths. In the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Karnataka govt yet to form committee to survey interstate border with AP

Bellary: The Karnataka government, which had said in the Belagavi Legislature session in December 2023 that it would appoint an expert committee to review the survey conducted to demarcate the inter-state border between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, has not yet come forward to form the committee. As a result, the preparation of an accurate official Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Jagans Memantha Siddam yatra receiving huge response

ANANTAPUR : Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys four-day long Memantha Siddam Bus Yatra has received a huge response from Kadapa districts Idupulapaya, where it started, to Dharmavaram in Satya Sai district, the point it reached on Saturday night. In between, the CM has also passed through Kurnool and Anantapur districts. Though the public meetings that he has addressed during his journey have been very few, massive crowds of people and party cadres have gathered to hear him, whether at the meetings or at every point that the bus has halted during the bus yatra over past four days. A person from Bellary in Karnataka, who came to Gooty to see Jagan, said he is neither a beneficiary nor voter, but a fan of the CM. Though Jagan has been greeting public at every point, he has made it a point to personally interact with women and physically challenged, who he realised had waited for a long time to see him. He has also offered them solutions for the issues they mentioned. were eagerly waiting to speak with the CM. A senior YSRC leader observed, These crowds are not paid, unlike TD. Every person has come voluntarily. During the four-day-long yatra, more than 10 leaders, including TD Kalyandurg assembly constituency in-charge Umamaheswar Naidu, have joined ruling YSRC in the presence of Jagan.

Lok Sabha polls: Congress fields CP Joshi from Bhilwara, opts for new face over Moily in Chikkaballapur

Congress released its ninth list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, including veteran CP Joshi from Rajasthan's Bhilwara. In Karnataka's Chikkaballapur, youth was prioritized over experience, with Raksha Ramaiah nominated instead of former Union minister M Veerappa Moily. The party continued its candidate announcements, with E Thukaram nominated for Bellary (ST) and Sunil Bose chosen for Chamarajanagar (SC).

Mining baron Janardhana Reddy rejoins BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Mining baron Janardhana Reddy rejoins BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls Former Karnataka Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy on Monday rejoined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Gangavati MLA, who is an accused in an illegal mining case, had formed the 'Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha' (KRPP) ahead of the state assembly polls last year, snapping his two-decade-old association with the BJP. Reddy today merged his KRPP with the BJP as he, along with wife Aruna Lakshmi and some family members, joined the party in the presence of its veteran leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, state President B Y Vijayendra, and others. Reddy had recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. However, in the recently held Rajya Sabha polls he had extended support to the Congress candidate. Before the assembly polls last year, Reddy had been largely politically inactive for nearly 12 years since his arrest by the CBI for an alleged role in a mining scam. During this period, he had a brief stint ahead of the 2018 assembly polls when he campaigned for his close friend and former Minister B Sriramulu in Molakalmuru Assembly segment. In the run up to the 2018 assembly polls, the then BJP national president Amit Shah, in response to a reporter's question, had distanced the party from him and stressed that ''the BJP has nothing to do with Janardhana Reddy.'' Accused in a multi-crore illegal mining case, he has been out on bail since 2015. Several conditions were imposed by the apex court in its order which includes prohibiting him from visiting Ballari in Karnataka and Ananthpur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. Because of these restrictions, he had to contest the 2023 Assembly polls from Gangavati in Koppal district. Expressing his displeasure about the way BJP had ignored him, Reddy had announced a new party last year and also took a dig at his brothers -- Karunakara Reddy and Somashekar Reddy -- and Sriramulu, as they remained with the BJP. The three of them had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls, with Reddy's new party said to have impacted their performance in the election. Sriramulu, a ST community leader and former Minister is now the BJP's candidate from the Bellary (Ballari) Lok Sabha constituency. Reddy had played an instrumental role in strengthening the BJP in the Ballari district and is still believed to enjoy a considerable clout there as well as in adjoining districts like Chitradurga, Koppal and Raichur, which could be useful for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Reddy and his brother-in-law B V Srinivas Reddy, managing director of Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC), were arrested by the CBI on September 5, 2011. The company is accused of changing mining lease boundary markings and indulging in illegal mining in the Ballari Reserve Forest area, spread over Ballari in Karnataka and the Anantpur district of Andhra Pradesh. Reddy first came to political limelight during the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, when he campaigned for BJP leader, the late Sushma Swaraj, who had contested against Congress' Sonia Gandhi from Ballari.

Partha of TD Is the Alliances Nominee for Hindupur LS Seat

TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu addressing the inaugural session of the party's 33rd Mahanadu (conclave) at Gandipet near Hyderabad. (Photo: AP) TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu addressing the inaugural session of the party's 33rd Mahanadu (conclave) at Gandipet near Hyderabad. (Photo: AP) Anantapur: Telugu Desam has succeeded in convincing its alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party to drop its demand for the Hindupur Lok Sabha constituency. Following this, TDP has announced that its Satya Sai district party president and former Penukonda MLA B.K. Parthasarathi will be its candidate from the Hindupur parliament seat. The development comes in the wake of Telugu Desam leaders belonging to the Hindupur Lok Sabha area, including sitting Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, opposing allotment of the parliamentary seat to BJP. The TD leaders had been worried that if the Lok Sabha seat goes to BJP, it will impact the prospects of TDP candidates contesting from assembly seats within the Lok Sabha constituency. Incidentally, former TD MLC from Madakasira area G. Thippeswamy had been expecting the ticket from the Hindupur Lok Sabha constituency. Thippeswamys supporters are dissatisfied with the party high commands decision to nominate Parthasarathi from the seat. Thippeswamy is under pressure from his supporters to quit the TDP on being denied the MP seat, sources said. Parthasarathi himself had been hoping that he will be fielded from the Penukonda assembly constituency. But the TD has allotted the seat to K. Savitha. There had been a stage when BJP had mounted tremendous on TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to allot it the Hindupur Lok Sabha seat. At that time, the TD high command had reportedly offered the Anantapur Lok Sabha seat to Parthasarathi. YSRC has already announced that J. Santha, former MP from Bellary in Karnataka, will be its nominee from the Hindupur Lok Sabha ticket. The ruling party has decided against fielding sitting MP Gorantla Madhav from the seat after his alleged nude videos went viral on social media. Fielding Madhav from the seat would have damaged YSRCs image. The ruling party leadership has also ordered Madhav to refrain from campaigning for YSRC in the forthcoming elections

Border areas put on alert to thwart illegal activities in poll season

Picture used for representational purpose. (photo: DC/File) Picture used for representational purpose. (photo: DC/File) Ananthapur: Border areas in the region have been put on high alert and additional check posts have been set up to prevent flow of illicit liquor and cash into the state, in view of the general elections. The Anantapur and Satya Sai districts are set along the Karnataka state borders. Assembly segments like Madakasira, Hindupur, Kalyandurg and Rayadurg are located close to Karnataka. Five mandals of Madakasira Assembly segment have only road access to Hindupur while all other sides are covered by Karnataka areas like Pavagada, Madhuguri, Sira and Hiriyur. Though Lok Sabha elections are held in both Karnataka and AP, Assembly elections are taking place in AP only, which would see a shift in illicit activities in the region towards AP. Additional check posts have been set up at Kodikonda, Ukkadam, Amidalagondi, Moda and Santhebidanur areas to check illicit transportation of liquor from Karnataka. The Satya Sai district authorities recently conducted meetings with the police teams of border districts of Tumkur, Chikkaballapur etc for joint efforts to thwart illicit activities, mainly liquor flow and transportation of black money into AP. Satya Sai district SP Madahva Reddy said all border areas were on a vigil against transportation of liquor and other material into the state. We are also keeping a vigil on the routes of entry in border regions where there is no check post, the SP said. Sources said illicit transportation of the arrack sachets and ID liquor was on rise in view of the huge difference in prices in Karnataka and AP. A volunteer from the border mandal of Rayadurg was detained while transporting ID sachets from nearby Karnataka. The Vidapankal check post near Uravakonda, located between Bellary-Anantapur, is also watched by the SEB teams to prevent illicit liquor flow to AP. The SEB wing is also keeping an eye on possible transportation of non-duty-paid liquor from Goa through Guntakal area towards Kurnool.

Ratna - Official Trailer

Watch the Official Trailer from Kannada movie 'Ratna' starring Harshala Honey and Vardhan. 'Ratna' movie is directed and produced by Basavaraj Bellary. To know more about 'Ratna' trailer watch the video. Check out the latest Kannada trailers, new movie trailers, trending Kannada movie trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.

Travel tips: 8 famous Hanuman temples of the country, there is a gathering of devotees throughout the year

Lord Hanuman, who is called the god of Kaliyuga, is considered a symbol of power. Lord Hanuman is one of the most revered Hindu deities. In Hinduism, Hanumanji is worshiped as a living deity. Every Tuesday, a gathering of devotees is seen in the temples of Hanumanji. There are many temples of Hanuman ji across the country, but today in this episode we are going to give you information about some of these famous temples. The temples about which we are going to tell you, there is a gathering of devotees throughout the year. Devotees come to these temples from far and wide to have darshan of the Lord. Let us know about these temples... Salasar Hanuman Temple, Rajasthan People relate the unique idol of Hanuman ji with beard and mustache by the name of Salasar wale Hanuman ji. This temple is located in Salasar village in Churu district of Rajasthan. It is said that a person who comes to this abode of Hanumat devotion never goes back empty-handed and his wishes are fulfilled. Here this statue has a beard and moustache. It was found by a farmer in the field and is installed on a golden throne in Salasar. Hanuman Dandi Temple, Gujarat Bajrangbali is present in this temple with Makardhwaj. It is believed that the idol of Makardhwaj in the temple used to be smaller than that of Hanumanji, but now both idols have become equally tall. It is also believed that Ahiravana had hidden Lord Shri Ram-Lakshman at this place. When Hanumanji came to take Shri Ram-Lakshman, he had a fierce fight with Makardhwaj. At last, Bajrangbali defeated him and tied him to his tail. Hanuman Dhara, Chitrakoot This Hanuman temple is situated near a place called Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh and the distance of Hanuman Dhara from Sitapur is three kilometers. There are two water ponds right near the head of a huge idol of Hanumanji on the support of the mountain, which is always filled with water and water keeps flowing from them continuously. The water of this stream flows touching Hanumanji, that is why it is called Hanuman Dhara. Hanuman Temple, Allahabad Adjacent to the Allahabad Fort, this temple is an ancient temple with the statue of Lord Hanuman lying down. In this Hanuman Ji is lying down. The statue is 20 feet tall. When there is a flood during the rains, the temple gets submerged, then the idol is moved somewhere else and kept safe. Ulte Hanumanji Temple, Indore This religious place is located only 30 km away from India's religious city Ujjain, where Lord Hanuman ji is worshiped in an inverted form. The upside-down idol of Lord Hanuman decorated with vermilion is present in the temple. Sanwer's Hanuman temple is an important place for Hanuman devotees. By coming here, the devotees get absorbed in the unwavering devotion of the Lord and become free from all worries. Hanumangarhi, Ayodhya Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram. Hanumangarhi temple is famous. This temple is built on a high mound in front of the royal gate. Sages and saints reside around the temple. To the south of Hanumangarhi are places called Sugriv Tila and Angad Tila. The temple was established 300 years ago by Swami Abhayaramdasji. Mehndipur Balaji, Rajasthan There is a place called Mehndipur situated between two hills near the Dausa district of Rajasthan. This temple is about 65 kilometers from Jaipur on the Jaipur-Bandikui bus route. Due to its location in the valley between two hills, it is also called Ghata Mehandipur. This temple is about 1 thousand years old. Here the figure of Hanuman himself had emerged in the rock. This is considered to be the form of Shri Hanuman ji. Yantrodharak Hanuman Temple, Hampi The Hanumanji enshrined in the temple of Hampi in Bellary district is called Yantrodharak Hanuman. According to scholars, this area is the ancient city of Kishkindha. Description of this place is found in Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharit Manas. Even today there are many caves here. A huge festival is celebrated in this temple for three days from the day of Shri Ram Navami. (PC: Lifeberrys)

BJP's balancing act for North and Coastal Karnataka

Mangaluru: As the electoral fervor intensifies, the BJP's second candidate list reflects a mix of familiar faces and unexpected changes in North and Coastal Karnataka, signaling a strategic balancing act by the party's High Command. In a bid to navigate between the prospects of victory and the opposition to incumbent MPs, the party leadership seems to have meticulously curated the list. Notably, constituencies such as Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, where dissent against sitting MPs was palpable, witness the introduction of fresh contenders. Former BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, a three-time representative of Dakshina Kannada, finds himself replaced by Capt Brijesh Chowta, marking Chowta's debut in electoral politics. Hailing from the Bunt community, similar to Nalin, Capt Chowta steps into the fray amidst strong reservations voiced by workers and voters against Nalin's candidacy. Likewise, the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, echoing with the echoes of the 'Go back Shobha' campaign, witnesses a change in candidacy. Leader of the opposition in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary, a prominent figure from the Billava community and a former minister during BJP's tenure, emerges as the nominee. Notably, Shobha Karandlaje, a twice-elected representative of the same constituency, finds herself shifted to Bengaluru North. In a twist of events, Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, currently serving as the MLA from Shiggaon, clinches the ticket for the Haveri constituency, superseding contenders like the son of senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa. The names of Jagadish Shettar and BC Patil were also making rounds for this seat. Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi retains his candidacy for Dharwad, while union minister Bhagwanth Khuba secures the ticket again for Bidar despite opposition within the party. The sitting MPs Annasaheb Shakar Jolle and Dr. Umesh Jadhav will contest from Chikkodi and Gulbarga respectively. PC Gaddigoudar, a four-time MP, will vie for Bagalkot, while Ramesh Jigajinagi, a three-time MP, will seek re-election from Bijapur. Basavaraj Kyavator and former Minister B Sriramulu will be the party's faces from Koppal and Bellary respectively, with Sriramulu aiming to replicate his 2014 victory in Bellary. Interestingly the candidate for Uttara Kannada has not yet been declared. The seat is currently represented by Anantkumar Hegde, who had recently kicked controversy. All eyes are on the constituency to see if the party will field Anantkumar despite controversy or fied a new face.

BJP's second list of candidates for LS polls: At least 25 sitting MPs replaced with new faces

BJP's second list of candidates for LS polls: At least 25 sitting MPs replaced with new faces The BJP replaced at least 25 sitting MPs with new faces as the party released its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday. In Delhi, the ruling party fielded Harsh Malhotra from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, dropping its sitting MP Gautam Gambhir, a former cricketer. For the North West Delhi constituency reserved for the Scheduled Caste, the party named Yogendra Chandolia as its candidate, dropping incumbent Hans Raj Hans, a singer. The BJP replaced five sitting MPs with new faces in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The party fielded Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakore from Sabarkantha, replacing its two-term MP Dipsinh Magansinh Rathod. For Bhavnagar seat, the party named Nimuben Bambhania, dropping its two-term MP Bhartiben Dhirubhai Shiyal. The BJP fielded Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from the Chhota Udaipur Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, instead of its sitting MP Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva. The party named Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal as its candidate for Surat, dropping its three-term MP and Union minister Darshana Vikram Jardosh from the seat. In Haryana, the BJP dropped its sitting MP Sunita Duggal to field Ashok Tanwar from the Sirsa seat, reserved for the Scheduled Caste. Tanwar, a former Congress leader, had recently joined the BJP after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party. From the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, the BJP fielded former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, dropping sitting MP Sanjay Bhatia. Khattar resigned as chief minister this week. In its second list, the BJP named five new faces for the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka. The party named Basavaraj Kyavator as its candidate from Koppal, drooping its two-term MP Sanganna Amarappa Karadi. From Bellary in Karnataka which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe, the BJP fielded B Sriramulu, instead of its sitting MP Y Devendrappa. The party named former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai as its candidate from Haveri, dropping its three-term MP Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi from the seat. For the Dakshina Kannada seat, the BJP named Capt Brijesh Chowta as its candidate for the Lok Sabha polls, instead of Nalin Kumar Kateel who held the seat for the last three consecutive terms. The party dropped its two-term MP Pratap Simha to field Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from the Mysore Lok Sabha seat. It named S Balaraj as its candidate for the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha seat, instead of its six-term MP Srinivasa Prasad. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP gave party ticket to Savitri Thakur from the Dhar seat, instead of Chhatar Singh Darbar who has been holding the seat for the last three terms. The party named Bharti Pardhi as its candidate from Balaghat seat, instead of its sitting MP Dal Singh Bisen. In Maharashtra, the BJP replaced its sitting MPs with new faces in five Lok Sabha seats. The party named Smita Wagh as its candidate from Jalgaon, dropping its sitting MP Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil from the seat. The BJP's two-term MP from Mumbai North Gopal Chinayya Shetty was dropped to field Union minister Piyush Goyal from the seat. The BJP named Anup Dhorte as its candidate from Maharashtras Akola Lok Sabha seat, instead of Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre who is the sitting MP. The BJP dropped its sitting MP Manoj Kishorebhai Kotak from Mumbai North East to field Mihir Kotecha from the seat. For the Beed Lok Sabha seat, the party named Pankaja Munde as its candidate, instead of her sister Pritam Gopinath Rao Munde who has been holding the seat for the last two terms. In Telangana, the BJP dropped its sitting MP Soyam Babu Rao to field Godam Nagesh from the Adilabad seat, which is reserved for the Scheduled Caste. The BJP fielded its chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni from Garhwal, instead of incumbent Tirath Singh Rawat, a former Uttarakhand chief minister. The party also dropped its two-term MP and former Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from the Haridwar seat to field former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The BJP named Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma as its candidate from Tripura East seat, instead of incumbent Rebati Tripura. In the first list of candidates released on March 2 for more than 190 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had replaced at least 33 sitting MPs with new faces.

Rameshwaram Cafe blast: NIA arrest one believed to have met prime accused

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a person on Wednesday, March 13, from the Bellary district of Karnataka in connection with the Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast case. The suspect, identified as Syed Shabbir, allegedly met the prime accused at the Bellary bus stand on March 1, the day of the blast incident. He is still Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengaluru: ISIS Bellary syndicate behind Rameshwaram Cafe blast?

Bellary:Police Commissioners and district police in Karnataka tightened security around temples and crowded public places under their jurisdiction after the Rameshwaram Cafe blast ahead of Mahashivratri. Bomb disposal squad conducted inspections in temples in many districts of the state aside from public places. The NIA has so far arrested 4 Minaj, Syed Sameer, Anas Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengalurus Rameshwaram Cafe blast case: 3 more suspects with ISIS ties held

Bengaluru: Following the interrogation of suspected terrorist Minaj alias Suleman in connection with the Rameswaram bomb blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday, March 8, took three additional suspectsinto its custodyon court orders. The individuals taken into custody are identified asSyed Sameer, 19, from Bellary, Anas Iqbal Sheikh, 23, from Mumbai, and Shayan Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengaluru: 1 arrested in connection with Rameshwaram Cafe Blast

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a significant suspect linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe Bomb Blast from Bellary Central Jail. Suspected militant Minaj alias Suleman, previously detained in Bellary Central Jail, is now under intense interrogation by the NIA. Suleiman, a resident of Kaul Bazar police station in Bellary, is being detained based Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengaluru cafe blast: NIA teams in north Ktaka on suspects trail

Bengaluru, March 7 (IANS) A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team was in Karnatakas Bellary city in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast case. The team reached the city in the early hours of Thursday, and sources said that more than 10 NIA officers in two vehicles were gathering information. Sources also said that the []