BENGALURU: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday kick-started his bypoll campaign from Hoskote by launching a scathing attack on the opposition Congress and exuding confidence of winning the elections with a big margin.

The voters will teach a befitting lesson to Sharath Bache Gowda, the CM said.

“Winning Hoskote is an issue of prestige for us,” the CM said while addressing party workers after a roadshow attended by around 10,000 people. “We are confident of winning by a margin of 25,000 votes and M T B Nagaraj will become minister in our government,” the CM said in the constituency where the BJP is facing a stiff challenge from its rebel Sharath Bache Gowda, who is contesting as an independent candidate.

If Sharath fails to withdraw from the contest, the BJP may find itself in a tough situation due to possible consolidation of Vokkaliga votes in favour of the independent candidate supported by the JDS. In 2018, Sharath, who had contested as BJP candidate, had lost to M T B Nagaraj, who had contested on a Congress ticket, by a narrow margin. The CM sounded confident of Nagaraj’s victory. “The opposition parties should note that Nagaraj will win with a big margin of 25,000 votes and he will become minister, let there be no doubt about it,” he said.

The voters will teach a befitting lesson to Sharath Bache Gowda, the CM said. Yediyurappa asked Sharath’s father and party MP BN Bache Gowda to campaign for Nagaraj or face action. The CM reiterated that Sharath would be expelled from the party and would not be taken back.

Launching a scathing attack on the opposition leaders, the CM said the Congress and the JDS leaders were responsible for the bypolls as they neglected legislators and their constituencies.  

In the next two weeks, the CM will address campaign rallies in all 15 assembly constituencies as ensuring reelection of his party candidates is crucial for his government’s stability.

The neighbourhood comprising majorly of daily wagers and artisans recount the youth as a calm and composed boy who never engaged even in a verbal duel in the area

MYSURU: Residents of the impoverished neighbourhood off HCG Road in KN Pura, Udayagiri, are still shocked how their neighbour Farhan Pasha, who is usually calm could thrust a machete on Tanveer Sait, local strongman and MLA.

The neighbourhood comprising majorly of daily wagers and artisans recount the youth as a calm and composed boy who never engaged even in a verbal duel in the area.

“Usually in our area, fights and arguments are common, but we have never seen Farhan having an argument in public. He was just like his father, mostly confined to his work. It came as a shock to us, we are still not able to believe the news,” said Shakeela, a neighbour.

According to her, Farhan’s father Maqbool, who is also a woodcarver has been staying in the locality for the past 50 years and the whole family, including Farhan had very cordial relationships with everyone in the area.

“We know him since he was young age. He is very helpful, he was very cooperative with the family and has never acted strangely before,” said Umma Kulsum, another neighbour.

Farhan is the youngest son of Maqbool-Shanu couple who has two more sons and a daughter, who are all married, and Farhan used to help his father in creating wood carving of figurines and wall panels of gods and goddesses. Their house is now locked away since the family left their house following the incident.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said the police are suspecting SDPI hand in the  attack on MLA Tanveer Sait. He said the accused is a worker of SDPI. Speaking to the media after calling on Tanveer Sait, he said this act is not committed by one individual and it is well-planned.  He said an SIT probe will further throw light on the organisation involved in the act and demanded the arrest of other accused and if proved they will  press for its ban. He termed it as a coward attack and condemned it. District Minister V Somanna said the government will airlift Sait if necessary to a good hospital for better treatment. He said the government will meet medical expenses and said Chief  Minister B S Yediyurappa has expressed shock over the incident.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the man is seen stabbing Tanveer Sait and fleeing.

MYSURU: Congress MLA representing Narasimharaja constituency in Mysuru, Tanveer Sait, was attacked by an unidentified man at a private function late on Sunday night.

In a video doing the rounds on social media, the man is seen stabbing Tanveer Sait and fleeing. The NR Mohalla police said the incident occurred around 11.30 pm. The attacker was caught by the public and handed over to the police.

 Sait was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

Ojal Nalavade, a 7th standard girl from Hubballi covered the distance of 400 mts in 51 seconds by skating blindfolded.

HUBBALLI: A 14-years old girl from Hubballi has achieved a rare fete by creating a world record here on Thursday morning.

Ojal Nalavade, a 7th standard girl from Hubballi covered the distance of 400 mts in 51 seconds by skating blindfolded.

The officials from the Gunnies Book of World Records declared that Ojal is now fastest blindfold skater in the world in 400 mts.

A certificate was given to the winner amidst cheers of well-wishers and skating enthusiasts.

The event on held near Chetana College where people has gathered as early as 5.30 am. There were a total of three attempts and third attempt was declared as the record. The officials from Gunnies Book of Records had given a timing of 60 seconds to complete the task.

Speaking with media, Ojal expressed happiness and thanks everyone for the support. “My parents, coach and family was a big support. I shall achieve more with their support in future,” she said.

Akshay Suryawanshi, skating coach of Ojal said that she was practicing early morning hours for many days. “Skating faster with blindfold is a rarity. She has achieved it with determination and hard work,” he said.

The I-T Department had filed a complaint against DK Shivakumar and others after it conducted a search in August 2017 under the provisions of Income Tax Act as well as IPC

BENGALURU: In a setback to Congress leader D K Shivakumar, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed the criminal review petition filed him against the order of the trial court which had rejected his plea seeking him to discharge from the case registered by the Income Tax Department for allegedly evading tax.

This apart, the High Court has also dismissed the criminal review petitions of two other accused in the same case. The two other accused are N Rajendra and Anjaneya Hanumanthaiah.

Justice B A Patil observed that prima facie petitioners – accused have not made out any grounds so as to interfere with the order of the trial court. The petitions are devoid of merits and the same are liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, the petitions are dismissed, the judge said. 

All the three accused approached the high court against the trial court order dated June 25, 2019. 

The I-T Department had filed a complaint against DK Shivakumar and others after it conducted a search in August 2017 under the provisions of Income Tax Act as well as IPC.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice N V Ramana held that the Speaker cannot dictate the duration of the disqualification till the end of the 15th legislative assembly term.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Speaker’s order of disqualifying 17 Karnataka MLAs, who had challenged their suspension by former state assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice N V Ramana held that the Speaker cannot dictate the duration of the disqualification till the end of the 15th legislative assembly term.

This means the disqualified MLAs can contest the December 5 by-election for which nominations are being filed.

The speaker had disqualified the rebel MLAs till the end of the term of Assembly till 2023.

But the bench today said that the Speaker did not have the power to prescribe a period of disqualification of an MLA.

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A three-judge bench also said if elected in by-polls, these disqualified MLAs can become ministers or hold public office.

The bench deprecated the manner in which the disqualified MLAs directly approached it without first moving the high court.

The court said its verdict is based on facts and circumstance of the case and does not interfere in the Speaker’s power to disqualify members.

The top court passed the verdict on petitions filed by these disqualified MLAs.

The top court had reserved its verdict on October 25 on petitions filed by these disqualified MLAs challenging orders of Kumar to disqualify them.

Kumar had disqualified the 17 legislators of the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition ahead of a trust vote in July.

The then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had resigned after losing the trust vote, which paved the way for the BJP-led government in the state under BS Yediyurappa.

Bypolls to 15 out of these 17 assembly seats which fell vacant following the disqualification of MLAs are scheduled on December 5 and candidates are required to file their nomination papers between November 11 and November 18.

Some of these disqualified MLAs had argued in the apex court that they have an “indefeasible right” to resign as members of the assembly and the decision by the then Speaker to disqualify them smacks of “vengeance” and “mala fide”.

The court also expressed concern over the growing trend of speaker acting against the constitutional mandate and said, “citizens are denied stable governments.”

During arguments in the matter, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Karnataka Congress, had contended that the then Speaker, who was the master of the Assembly, had exercised his jurisdiction to disqualify these MLAs and his decision cannot be questioned.

Sibal had also submitted that “the matter needs to be referred to a Constitution bench as it raises matters of grave constitutional importance”.

The incumbent Karnataka Assembly Speaker had earlier told the top court that he has no difficulty in hearing these 17 MLAs and take a “fresh call” on the issue.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the office of the Karnataka Assembly Speaker, had submitted that under the scheme of Constitution, a lawmaker has a right to resign and the Speaker should accept it.

In July, the 17 rebel legislators had switched sides to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after assembly elections, leading to the collapse of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular), or JD(S) coalition government.

Speaker Kumar had refused to accept their resignations and instead disqualified them, barring them from contesting elections until the end of the assembly’s term in 2023.

The legislators then moved the Supreme Court challenging the ruling.

Kumar had disqualified the lawmakers on grounds that their resignations were not voluntary and genuine, hence it amounted to defection.

The rebel members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) argued that their resignation was voluntary and they have the right to resign.

Also, they claimed that the Speaker only gave them three days as against the mandated seven days to dispute their disqualification.

The lawmakers argued that even if their disqualification was upheld it cannot last until 2023, but should be valid only until fresh elections take place.

The current Assembly Speaker is V Hegde Kageri.

The disqualified MLAs are: Pratap Gowda Patil, BC Patil, Shivram Hebbar, ST Somashekar, Byrati Basavaraj, Anand Singh, R Roshan Baig, N Munirathna, K Sudhakar and MTB Nagaraj, Shrimant Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumatalli and R Shankar (all Congress).

JD(S) members who faced action are K Gopalaiah, AH Vishwanath and KC Narayana Gowda.

Talking about fielding candidates for by elections, Deve Gowda said that his party would put up a strong fight in five-six seats, and may win most of these seats. 

KALABURAGI: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who seems to be changing his stance about the stability of the current BS Yediyurappa government every few days, has now said that there is no immediate threat to BSY government, even after the bypolls. Speaking to the press in Kalaburagi on Monday, the JDS national president claimed that no party will be able to secure all the 15 seats going to polls, while also clarifying that there is no question of him supporting either the BJP or the Congress, nor will they try to topple the government to come to power.

“Me and other JDS leaders will concentrate only on strengthening the party over the next three years so that it can come to power on its own in the next assembly elections,” he said. He also maintained that the only way the BSY government will be toppled now is due to internal bickering within the BJP. Talking about fielding candidates for byelections, Deve Gowda said that his party would put up a strong fight in five-six seats, and may win most of these seats. 

“I am interested in strengthening the party rather than thinking about who will benefit from the presence of JDS candidates,” he said, adding that no dissatisfied leaders of the BJP and Congress have expressed a desire to contest on a JDS ticket, but that some of them have contacted H D Kumaraswamy and Bandeppa Kashempur. The list of JDS candidates will be announced in a few days, probably by Wednesday, he said. Commenting about the political situation in Maharashtra, Deve Gowda said he feels there is nothing wrong in the Shiv Sena seeking the support of NCP and the Congress in forming the government. 

Virajpet hindu organisations also recalled the service rendered by Kuttappa and observed his death anniversary as martyr day

MADIKERI: Kodagu remained calm on Tipu Jayanti as no private celebration of the jayanti by organisations or individuals was witnessed across the district on Sunday. The police department had earlier warned not to celebrate the event and requested for communal harmony in Kodagu on the day of Eid Milad festival and also a day after the Ayodhya verdict.

Meanwhile, Eid Milad festival celebration in Madikeri has been postponed to Monday and the decision was voluntarily taken by the religious heads of the three main mosques of Madikeri, obliging to the instructions by the Kodagu SP, to prevent any untoward incidents on the Tipu Jayanti day. However, Eid Milad was celebrated in Somwarpet and Virajpet, but no procession was taken out on Sunday.

Simultaneously, a group of Hindu activists performed puja at Madikeri Sri Omkareshwara temple remembering the death of Devapanda kuttappa, the then organising secretary of Kodagu Vishwa Hindu Parishat who died in Madikeri during 2015 Tipu Jayanti clash between two groups.

Virajpet hindu organisations also recalled the service rendered by Kuttappa and observed his death anniversary as martyr day.

HDK and his father hint at new warmth in ties with the BJP, are likely to support Yediyurappa govt after bypolls

BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who had on Tuesday given out a ‘No’ to any understanding with the BJP, has changed his mind in less than 24 hours.

On Wednesday, he claimed that there are no “permanent enemies” in politics.

This easing of the stand has drawn some sharp comments from the Congress.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said, “If they go with BJP, they are not secular.”

KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao went a step further to add that the JDS was “turning communal’’.

Political circles, closely watching the developments over the past fortnight, reacted cautiously when former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy first hinted at a thawing of relationship between the JDS and BJP, when he said that considering the floods and other challenges before the state, the BS Yediyurappa government shouldn’t be rocked.

He had also indicated that Yediyurappa need not worry about the outcome of the bypolls, seen as a broad hint that the JDS may stand by the BJP in the assembly.

And now comes Gowda’s statement that “there are no permanent enemies’’. Both father and son, who had earlier predicted mid-term polls in January, seem to be reading the tea leaves differently. Now, the Gowdas seem somewhat eager to allow the government to complete its full term.

Deve Gowda took pains to define “who is an enemy” and “who is a friend” in the optics of politics. 

“Is CM Yediyurappa my enemy? Siddaramaiah and I have opposed and fought each other, but we have also shared the stage together, which is a sign of friendship.” He summed up, time and situations change everything, even friends and enemies.

This softening of stand towards BJP, by the former PM, who made a mark on the national stage as a proponent of secular politics, came as a surprise to observers even within the party.

Most observers had maintained that he would not support the BJP at any cost, to keep the identity and the branding of his Janata Dal Secular, intact.

However, now there is an increasing buzz within the JDS that the party may go the whole hog and support the BJP, should it fall short of MLAs after the December 5 bypolls. On Tuesday, it was reported that Gowda and Yediyurappa had spoken to each other. For form’s sake,  Gowda has maintained that they had spoken about “some other issue”.

Another telling sign of the thaw was the transfer of Bapugouda Patil, the police officer against whose ‘excesses’ Gowda had protested in Gurmitkal, and threatened to stage a protest outside Yediyurappa’s house on November 15.

Former minister Basavaraj Horatti has quite significantly said that he would do whatever the party leadership decides.

Puttanna suspended for anti-party activities

Former deputy chairman of the Council Puttanna was suspended from the JDS for indulging in “anti-party activities”.

Senior JDS leader HD Revanna used extremely harsh language against Puttanna recently after he was seen to be getting close to the BJP.

Third-time  MLC Puttanna term ends in seven months.

Meanwhile, Congress district units across the state staged protests demanding the CM’s resignation and Amit Shah’s dismissal from the Union cabinet.

BENGALURU: As the political storm continues to brew over the chief minister’s reported remarks about his party’s central leaders being in the know of developments related to the rebel MLAs’ resignation, BS Yediyurappa on Monday dared Opposition leader Siddaramaiah to contest elections.

“If you have the guts, face elections instead of trying to create confusion in the SC and among people. You are a former CM, Opposition leader and an advocate, you should know how to behave,” the CM thundered. “Under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, Congress won just one seat in the state. Now, he is doing all these things to cover up his failures,” he said.

Accusing Siddaramaiah for the rebels’ resignation and for the fall of the coalition, the CM said Siddaramaiah and former Speaker Ramesh Kumar conspired to disqualify the MLAs. The BJP has nothing to do with the rebel MLAs’ decision, he said.

Continuing his tirade against the former CM, Yediyurappa said under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, the Congress will never come to power in the state. “There is no truth in what they are saying about the video. They should be ashamed of it,” Yediyurappa said.

BJP State General Secretary N Ravi Kumar also rubbished the Congress’ allegations, and called the video a “fake CD”. “Siddaramaiah had conspired to bring down the coalition government while he was staying at Shanti Vana (resort), and a CD of his conversation was also released. He is now doing this to discredit the BJP, but he won’t be successful,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress district units across the state staged protests demanding the CM’s resignation and Amit Shah’s dismissal from the Union cabinet. According to them, footage Yeddyurappa’s speech at the party meeting in Hubballi proved that the BJP central leaders were responsible for the resignation of the rebels.