MB Patil,former Major Irrigation minister today claimed that the party is in touch with six BJP MLAs’ and they will be soon switching over their loyalty towards the Congress party.
He made this claim before a group of media persons before departing from the Congress legislature party meeting:We are also in touch with six BJP MLAs’ and in all likelihood they would be soon switching over the sides.
However he refused to divulge more details in this regard:It’s all false to say that our legislators are in touch with BJP and on the other hand it is six BJP MLAs’ who are in touch with us and keen on switching sides.
He refused to comment on the development of only 66 newly elected legislators making it to the CLP meeting though 78 members have been elected on behalf of the party.Much before the meeting came to a close the total increased to 74 and the other four remained inaccessible to the party leaders giving rise to all types of speculations.
Among such legislators include Anandsingh,B Nagendra and Bheema Naik. R Shankar elected on a KPJP ticket from Ranebennur has already joined the BJP group raising its strength from 104 to 105 while the JDS-Congress alliance group has claimed a majority of 116 members.

Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti

Siddaramaiah couldn’t control his emotions this morning in the Congress legislature meeting when he literally wept following the party’s debacle in the recently concluded general elections in spite of giving a good governance.
The incident took place when the outgoing chief minister was chatting with his close associates much before the legislature party meeting.He’s said to have suddenly become emotional over the severe drubbing the party received at the hustings.
Once the chief minister started weeping Dharmasena,party MLC and many others also started crying.The chief minister is said to have complained that in spite of traveling the length and breadth of the state for campaigning the party lost miserably.
The chief minister is also said to have lamented that the party failed to fair well even after giving a good government and launching innumerable welfare measures for the poor and downtrodden people.
He’s also reported to be upset with some party men who have been gunning him for the poor performance.
However R Ramalingareddy,former Home minister has denied reports that the chief minister wept in the CLP meeting.

Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to modify its draft scheme for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) that will be the sole authority for implementing the Cauvery Water Tribunal Award.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also sought to drop of the clause which said that in case of dispute the matter would be decided by the Centre and same would be final and binding.

The Centre was also asked to drop the clause that said that the Centre would give directions from time to time to the implementing authority — a clause which was objected to by Tamil Nadu.

“This part will not be there… you make it clear,” Chief Justice Misra accepting Tamil Nadu’s objection told Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, who agreed that the proposed authority will be called Cauvery Management Board.

The 2007 Cauvery Water Tribunal Award was modified and reaffirmed by the top court by its February 16 verdict.

The court said the Centre would only be issuing administrative directions for implementing the award.

The CMB would be headquartered in Delhi while the office of the regulatory authority would be in Bengaluru.

Asking the Attorney General to come back with the modified draft, the court adjourned the matter for Thursday.

The court did not accept Karnataka’s plea for adjourning the matter till first week of July as it said it would like to offer its comments on the draft scheme that was submitted by the Centre two days ago.

Telling the court that there was no government in place to give comments on the draft scheme, senior counsel Shyam Divan told the court: “When Tamil Nadu is making suggestions, is it unreasonable for Karnataka to make comments.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been asked to join the investigation into an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs, Police said on Wednesday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Harendra Singh told IANS that a notice was sent to the Chief Minister, asking him to be present at the Civil Lines Police Station at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Singh added that they were yet to receive a reply from the Chief Minister’s Office.

On February 20, the Chief Secretary had alleged that he was assaulted by two Aam Aadmi Party legislators in the presence of Kejriwal at the Chief Minister’s residence.

Later, AAP MLAs Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal were arrested for the alleged assault.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said that former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad’s formula of a “Mahagatbandhan” (Grand Alliance) at the national level is the only way to defeat the BJP-led NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taunted the Congress for trying to grab power with the support of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka, Tejashwi Yadav called for a Grand Alliance at the national level to oust the BJP.

“A Grand Alliance at the national level is the best option to defeat the BJP. The Grand Alliance should be on the lines of Laluji’s formula to unite all non-BJP parties by formation of a Mahagatbandhan the like of which defeated the BJP in Bihar,” he said.

“The Congress-led UPA has to adopt Laluji’s formula,” said the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.

Tehashwi Yadav warned that if a Grand Alliance was not formed at the national level, the BJP would succeed in its attempt to implement the RSS agenda.

He also asked the Congress to give more importance to regional parties and their issues.

BSF troopers have seized nearly 10.5 kg of heroin along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s frontier district Ferozepur, BSF officials said on Wednesday.

The heroin, valued at over Rs 52 crore in the international market, was recovered near the border outpost (BoP) Gatti Hayat in Ferozepur district, around 250 km from here.

“Based on the revelations made by two persons who were apprehended by Special Task Force Ludhiana, a special joint search operation was launched by the troops of Border Security Force and Special Task Force, Ludhiana, Punjab Police, in the area…

During the search, seven packets (some 10.5 kg) of contraband heroin was found buried in the field between International Boundary and border security fence, a BSF spokesman said.

The BSF has recovered 127.40 kg of heroin along the international boundary with Pakistan.

Punjab shares a 553-km international border, with a barbed wire fence, with Pakistan.

A Goa BJP leader said on Wednesday it was not fair to compare the scenario in Karnataka with that of Goa over government formation even as comparisons have been drawn on the issue of post-poll alliances.

South Goa Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Narendra Savoikar made the remarks as political analysts as well as Congress leaders have drawn up comparisons between the Congress’ post-poll alliance with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) to form the government in Karnataka, with a similar successful attempt by the BJP in Goa in March 2017.

“You cannot compare two states on one similar line. In fact, it differs from state to state and the scenario in Goa is different from what it is in Karnataka. So I think it is not proper on part of leadership to compare the situation in Goa at the relevant time and Karnataka at the present time,” he told reporters.

The BJP had won 13 seats in the 2017 state assembly election compared to the 17 seats won by the Congress, which had emerged as the single largest party.

But after swift political manoeuvring, the BJP staked claimed to power with two regional parties and independent MLAs and formed its coalition government after getting the nod from Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.

In Karnataka, the Congress appears to have given the BJP a taste of its own medicine.

Despite the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats, the Congress (78) and Janata Dal-Secular (37) have cobbled together an alliance and have staked claim with the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala to form a coalition government in the Southern state.

Kerala Minister A.K. Balan on Wednesday expressed confidence that the CPI-M will easily win the May 28 Chengannur assembly bypoll.

Minister for Law and Culture Balan said: “There is absolutely no doubt that our candidate will win not just easily but it will be a handsome victory.”

The death of Communist Party of India-Marxist legislator K.K. Ramachandran Nair in January, has led to the bye-election. The counting of votes will take place on May 31.

Balan was speaking about the second anniversary celebrations of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, which ends in the state capital on May 30, a day before the assembly bye-election result.

Vijayan was sworn in on May 26, 2016.

Balan said: “The reason why we are confident is the Rs 750-crore development work that our late legislator Nair did in the constituency. Besides, our candidate Saji Cherian’s overall acceptance in the constituency.

“This time it is the Congress’ candidate that is being fielded and not that of the UDF. The two major allies of the United Democratic Front — Kerala Congress (Mani) and Janata Dal (United) — are no longer with them anymore,” said the minister.

“We are celebrating the government’s second anniversary and we are pleased the way the two years have panned out with numerous programmes and projects.”

Balan said he had not heard even a single word against the Left government in the state during his campaigning.

The logjam in Karnataka over the Assembly elections looks set to continue, with the JD(S) accusing the BJP of attempting to poach their MLAs with bribes of Rs 100 crore each. Meanwhile, reports suggest the Congress will move the Supreme Court if governor Vajubhai Vala invites the BJP to form the government.

8 Congress MLAs and 2 JD(S) MLAs have been reported missing from their respective legislative party meets in Bengaluru
Yeddyurappa has been named BJP’s Karnataka Legislative party leader and the BJP has been granted time to prove its majority in the Assembly
HD Kumaraswamy has been offered the post of chief minister of the eleventh-hour JD(S)-Congress alliance
Congress sources confirmed to The Quint that although 73 out of 78 party MLAs have reached the venue for the meeting, all the MLAs have assured their support to the JD(S)-Congress alliance.
The document, signed by the JD(S) and Congress MLAs will be submitted to the Governor later today when JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy approaches the governor.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee phoned JD(S) party legislative chief HD Kumaraswamy to convey her wishes, reported

Quoting sources, News18 reported that few opposition leaders have advised the JD(S)-Congress alliance to approach the President if they are not invited by the governor to form the government.

Horse-Trading Allegations are Baseless: Prakash Javadekar

Debunking Congress and JD(S)’ allegations about BJP trying to poach MLAs, Karnataka party in-charge Prakash Javadekar
“They are leveling baseless charges against BJP. Poaching and horse trading is not done by BJP, Congress is famous for it. Their own MLAs are not happy with their alliance.”

He added, “Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JD(S) do politics through. We are going by rules,we have submitted our claim to the Governor, are confident of forming the government.”

Cong to Move SC If Not Invited to Form Government: Reports

Congress is set to move the Supreme Court of India if the Karnataka governor invites the BJP to form the government in the state, according to reports.

3 Congress MLAs Arrive at the Meeting

Three of the 11 missing Congress MLAs have arrived at the party meeting which is underway in Bengaluru.

BJP Tried to Poach Five JD(S) MLAs: Reports

Five JD(S) MLA-elects have been approached by the BJP in a bid to poach them, reported The News Minute quoting party sources.

BJP Bribing JD(S) MLAs with Rs 100 Cr Each, Where’s Black Money Coming From?: Kumaraswamy

“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each,” HD Kumaraswamy told reporters after the JD(S) legislative meeting. “Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?”
HD Kumaraswamy Named Legislative Party Leader of JD(S)

HD Kumaraswamy was chosen as the legislative party leader of the JD(S), in a meeting of party MLAs in Bengaluru.

Day after being nominated as the chief ministerial candidate after the Congress and JD(S) got into an alliance to form the new government in Karnataka, JD(S) legislative party leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore and cabinet posts to some of his party MLAs (lawmakers).

“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?” Kumaraswamy said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Son of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy further said that he has an “offer” from the BJP, but he will not “betray” his father Deve Gowda again.

“I have been offered from both sides. I am not saying this loosely. There’s a black spot on my father’s career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 and 2005. So God has given me the opportunity to remove this black spot. So I am going with Congress,” Kumaraswamy said.

With 104 seats BJP emerged as the largest party in Karnataka while the Congress was voted out of power on Tuesday. But the political situation in the state changed when the Congress and JD(S) announced a surprise alliance to form the government.