After winning stability in Karnataka with the bypoll sweep, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa too faces the problem of  ‘cab’ .

BENGALURU/BELAGAVI: After winning stability in Karnataka with the bypoll sweep, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa too faces the problem of  ‘cab’ . While the entire country is consumed with CAB (cabinet amendment bill), the CM is focusing on expanding his cabinet before December 14 and is likely to visit New Delhi in two-three days to get the central leadership’s nod. The process of the much-talked-about ministry expansion has been set in motion and the CM is said to be keen on completing the process in the next few days. He is trying to get the list of MLAs to be inducted into the cabinet cleared by party president Amit Shah by Wednesday.

But as PM Narendra Modi and Shah are busy with the upcoming Jharkhand assembly polls and parliament session, the CM may not be able to meet them personally but the list of ministers is likely to be cleared by them at any moment, sources said. If the list gets Shah’s nod by Wednesday, the cabinet expansion is likely to take place on December 12, sources said. However, if the ministry expansion is not done before December 16 when Dhanurmasam (inauspicious month) will start, it is likely to be delayed till ‘Sankranti’ on January 14, according to sources.  Normally, important works are not be taken up during Dhanurmasam.

On Tuesday, Yediyurappa reiterated his commitment to induct newly elected legislators, who had helped the BJP form government in the state. These 11 formerly disqualified legislators, won the bypolls as the BJP candidates. Senior BJP leaders Umesh Katti and Aravind Limbavali are also likely to be inducted if the CM gets a go ahead from the central leadership. 

Meanwhile, Ramesh Jarkiholi, BJP MLA from Gokak, who played a crucial role in the collapse of the JDS-Congress coalition government and also in the formation of the BJP government in the state is likely to be rewarded with the plum Water Resources portfolio. However, it is still not clear if he will also be made Deputy Chief Minister.  

Already, several MLAs from Belagavi have listed the irrigation projects which they want Jarkiholi to implement on top priority soon after taking over as Water Resources Minister.Besides Jarkiholi, Yediyurappa is expected to induct MLAs Mahesh Kumathalli, Shrimant Patil and Umesh Katti from Belagavi in his cabinet. Sources said, the BJP may even drop Kumathalli in order to accommodate some of senior MLAs including Umesh Katti. In that case, Kumathalli may have to be content with the post of chairman of one of the noted local bodies which the government may offer him as an alternative.

Energy, another important portfolio, is likely to be given to an MLA of Belagavi. Jarkiholi is said to be keen to hold the plum portfolios which his political bete noire D K Shivakumar held in the previous coalition government. Jarkiholi may be also be given Energy portfolio, according to sources.Meanwhile,  the newly elected BJP legislators — Byrati Basavaraj, K Gopalaiah and ST Somashekar — from Bengaluru are said to be lobbying for the plum Bengaluru Development portfolio.

Lobbying on for Bengaluru Development portfolio
The newly elected BJP legislators — Byrathi Basavaraj, K Gopalaiah and ST Somashekar — from Bengaluru are said to be lobbying for the plum Bengaluru Development portfolio

A total of 24,073 voters chose the NOTA option from the 15 constituencies, and interestingly, NOTA secured more votes than the JDS candidates in three assembly constituencies.

BENGALURU: The ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) option emerged as one of the strongest contenders in this byelection, as indicated in the results announced on Monday. Of the 15 assembly constituencies that went to polls, NOTA stood in the third position in four assembly constituencies.

The higher vote-share to NOTA in many constituencies reflected the people’s disenchantment with candidates. NOTA was either in third or fourth spot, replacing candidates in eight constituencies.

A total of 24,073 voters chose the NOTA option from the 15 constituencies, and interestingly, NOTA secured more votes than the JDS candidates in three assembly constituencies.

In Yellapur assembly constituency, a total of 1,444 people chose the NOTA option, which was more than what JDS candidate A Chaitra secured (1,235) votes.

In KR Puram, JDS’ Krishnamurthy won 2,048 votes, while 5,181 people opted for NOTA. In Hirekerur constituency, NOTA stood in the third spot after BJP and Congress, as 789 people chose NOTA, less than what Independent candidates and candidates from other parties secured. Sources in political circles say that the high-vote share for the NOTA option depicts the voters’ dissent and anger towards rebel MLAs who defected to the BJP.

Karnataka Assembly bypoll results 2019, Karnataka bye-election results 2019 Elections were held on December 5 to the Yellapur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagara, Yeshwantpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chikkaballapura, KR Puram, Shivajinagar, KR Pete, Hunsur, Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Hirekerur, and Hoskote seats.

 The BJP retained majority in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday, after registering a victory in at least twelve of the 15 bypoll seats. The party is leading in six other seats, while the Congress is leading in two and an Independent in one. The results are a drubbing for the JD(S), which is trailing in no seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Karnataka people have “punished” the Congress and JD(S) and taught them a lesson. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Jharkhand, he said, “The Congress and its allies subverted the mandate in Karnataka, stabbed it in the back. These parties will now have to bite the dust.”

Elections were held on December 5 to the Yellapur, Ranebennur, Vijayanagara, Yeshwantpur, Mahalakshmi Layout, Chikkaballapura, KR Puram, Shivajinagar, KR Pete, Hunsur, Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Hirekerur, and Hoskote seats. This was necessitated after 15 rebel MLAs from the Congress and JD(S) parties defected to the BJP in July in a bid to bring down the coalition government led by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. The MLAs were subsequently suspended from the House but allowed to contest the bypolls.

Two seats remain vacant in the House — Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Maski — as separate election petitions challenging the results of the 2018 elections are still pending in the Karnataka High Court.

The Congress and the JDS candidates are leading in two constituencies each, while BJP rebel candidate Sharath Bache Gowda is leading in Hoskote.

BENGALURU: At the end of the second round of counting of votes, the ruling BJP is leading in 10 out of 15 assembly segments that went to polls on December 5. The Congress and the JDS candidates are leading in two constituencies each, while BJP rebel candidate Sharath Bache Gowda is leading in Hosakote. JDS has supported Sharath son of BJP Chikkaballapura MP Bache Gowda. 

In Bengaluru, the BJP is leading in two out of four seats, while the Congress is leading Shivajinagar and the JDS has taken the lead in Yeshwantpur assembly segments. The BJP candidates are leading in KR Puram and Mahalaxmi Layout, according to the initial trends.

The ruling BJP has expressed confidence of winning around 13 seats. 

These are early trends and a clear picture will emerge by noon. 

In a whirlwind campaign in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa says BJP will win all 15 seats in next week’s bypolls

BENGALURU: After campaigning for his party candidates in North Karnataka and Old Mysore region for a week, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Saturday went on a whirlwind campaign in Bengaluru. From 11 am to 8 pm, the CM took part in roadshows, addressed street corner rallies and public meetings in Yeshwantpur and Mahalaxmi Layout assembly segments in the city.

In his interactions with voters, the CM emphasized on his development agenda and the need for a stable government. “Development is our only aim,” the CM said and asked even the JDS and the Congress workers to support the BJP candidate. Disqualified legislators S T Somashekara and K Gopaliah are the BJP candidates in Yeshwantpur and Mahalaxmi Layout assembly segments, respectively.

“The Congress and the JDS leaders are only interested in mid-term polls, and not development, and trying hard to ensure that BJP won’t get a majority. On December 9, when the counting of votes starts, they will all run away from the counting centres,” Yediyurappa said, expressing confidence of winning all 15 seats.  The CM even asked the voters to consider himself as the candidate and vote for the BJP.

BJP candidate Somashekar too hit out at the Congress and the JDS by saying during the 15 months of the coalition rule, they had not got any grants for the development of the constituency and within three months of the BJP rule, they had got Rs 750 crore for the development works. 

On Sunday, the CM will be taking part in a roadshow in Shivajinagar and address election meetings before heading to Belagavi for the second round of campaigning in Gokak and Kagwad on Sunday evening. The CM has covered all 15 constituencies and in the next three days, he will be focusing more on the constituencies where his presence will help the party more, sources said. 

“The CM will focus on assembly segments where his last-minute presence will help to swing one or two per cent votes more. This is being done based on inputs from various sources,” sources in the party said.

 Hopping on to the BJP bandwagon in a constituency where the saffron outfit has not tasted victory in 25 years, H Vishwanath exudes a quiet confidence that he will make history.

HUNSUR: Hopping on to the BJP bandwagon in a constituency where the saffron outfit has not tasted victory in 25 years, H Vishwanath exudes a quiet confidence that he will make history. On waging a triangular battle, Vishwanath says, “I will win and that will change political equations in Hunsur, which has been a bastion of the JDS.” Excerpts from the interview:

How is the campaign going? What is your reading of the electorate’s mood?
People say they are looking to BJP. The people of Hunsur know I have an agenda of making Hunsur a district, bringing a medical college and better infrastructure. This time, voters are for development and will not get carried away by opposition propaganda.

You seem to be batting on a dicey wicket this time…
I am contesting an election for the first time on a BJP ticket. I must build my profile with support of BJP workers and my followers. 

How will you overcome the loss of your traditional Vokkaliga and minority base?
I have lost the support of minorities. However, I will get considerable votes from Vokkaligas. Both Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah have lost the power to transfer votes. Many microscopic communities have already deserted Congress.

BJP lacks cadre base here. Will it harm your prospects?
Except once in 1994, BJP has not won Hunsur. BJP cadres do not have much presence in rural parts. Leaders of other communities are filling this gap. People are looking for a stable government and development under Yediyurappa’s leadership.                      

What are the factors that instil the confidence of victory in you?
The presence of Dalits, STs and backward communities are a boon. Many feel that 
my demand for a district is judicious as the government have carved out Ramanagara and Yadgir, which have only two or three taluks.

The exams will commence on  March 27, Friday and end on April 9, Thursday

The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB ) released the final timetable for SSLC examination 2020 on its official website. The exams will commence on  March 27 (Friday) and end on April 9 (Thursday). 

TIME TABLE

March 27: First Language
March 30:  Science, Political Science, Karnataka/Hindustani music
April 1: Second Language
April 3: Third Language/ NSQF Exm subjects
April 4: Elements of mechanical and electrical engineering, engineering graphic, elements of electronic engineering, elements of computer science, economics
April 7: Mathematics, sociology
April 9: Social Science

Visit the KSEEB website for more details.

The police till now have arrested seven people including players and a coach in connection with the KPL match-fixing case.

BENGALURU: The sleuths of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), who are investigating the alleged match-fixing in Karnataka Premiere League (KPL) matches, have questioned an umpire in connection with the probe. BK Ravi, an umpire, was questioned by the CCB police on Friday for a few hours. Sources said that Ravi had worked as third umpire for a few matches which were allegedly fixed. Ravi’s son BR Sharath, who is Under-23 India skipper, is a player of Bengaluru Blasters KPL team and the police would also summon him as part of the probe. The police till now have arrested seven people including players and a coach in connection with the KPL match-fixing case.

The accused, during interrogation, revealed that he had tracked Sait for more than two months and had maintained a low profile.

MYSURU: Farhan Pasha, accused of attacking Narasimharaja MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait, had planned to assault the leader during Id Milad function and protests over Tipu Jayanti in front of the MUDA office, a probe has revealed. Though, Farhan had come close to Sait during Id Milad function, he could not execute his plans as the latter was with a group of photojournalists.

The accused, during interrogation, revealed that he had tracked Sait for more than two months and had maintained a low profile. He had no criminal record either. He reached Bannimantap, the marriage venue, knowing that Sait would turn up at the wedding reception and spend some time at the musical programme.
There are charges that Farhan was assigned to attack Sait on the ideological issue and his political dominance in Narasimharaja constituency represented by him and his father Azeez Sait for five decades.

Cops who are tracking the video footage and call records, frequent callers and duration of calls, have taken five persons — Akram, Abeed Pasha, Noor Khan, Mujeeb and Muzamil — into custody. They are also probing one of the accused’s role in the murder of an RSS worker. The police have concluded that the accused could not have carried out such an attack on the MLA. without training. The police also plan to seek the assistance of the central agencies.

Hindu leader on hit list?
The investigation has revealed that they had also planned an attack on Hindu leader Giridhar in Kythamaranahalli. Giridhar, who was instrumental in the construction of a temple, has been provided with a gunman after the threat was revealed by Abeed Pasha.

Sait moved to ward
Sait has been moved to the ward from ICU at Columbia Asia Hospitals. Police are keeping a  tight vigil at the hospital. They are also tracking movement of activists of various organisations and conducting surprise raids.

Health Minister B Sriramulu said the BJP is confident that Sumalatha Ambareesh, Independent MP of Mandya constituency,  will support the KR Pet candidate in the bye-elections.

MANDYA: Health Minister B Sriramulu said the BJP is confident that Sumalatha Ambareesh, Independent MP of Mandya constituency,  will support the KR Pet candidate in the bye-elections.

Addressing the media in Mandya on Tuesday, he said the party top brass have held talks with Sumalatha, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have sought her support too, he added.  Sriramulu said, “Sumalatha is a multi-lingual actress and MP. She knows well whom to support and whom not to support.”

Exuding confidence of winning all 15 constituencies in the bye-elections, he said he will campaign for party candidate Narayan Gowda in KR Pet for two days.