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66.21% polling in 14 LS seats of Karnataka: DK highest; Bengaluru Central lowest

News Network
April 18, 2019

Bengaluru, Apr 18: The fierce, high-decibel election to the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka witnessed an estimated voter turnout of 66.21% in the first phase on Thursday. Polling was largely peaceful except for stray incidents of violence and large-scale complaints of missing names in the electoral rolls.

Bengaluru’s voter apathy continued with just about 48% of the city’s voters showing up at polling stations in the Bangalore North, Bangalore Central and Bangalore South constituencies. The average voter turnout in Bengaluru in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls was 55.95%. A total of 2.67 crore citizens were eligible to vote. In 2014, these 14 Lok Sabha constituencies recorded 68.6% voter turnout.

Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said the voter turnout could touch 69% once the final reports are obtained from the returning officers. The Election Commission will release the final voting figures on Friday.

The commission had, on its official mobile app, shown a “tentative” voter turnout of 69%, with the highest in the Mandya segment (80%) where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil was locked in an intense fight with independent candidate Sumalatha, the wife of late actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh.

However, according to figures released by the CEO, the highest voter turnout as of 6 pm Thursday was 77.22% recorded in the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha segment, followed by Tumkur (77.03%) where former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is contesting. The lowest turnout was in Bangalore Central at 47.31%.

Widespread complaints from voters about their names “missing” from the electoral rolls were reported from almost all constituencies. Aggrieved citizens expressed their ire on social media.

Disruption

Polling was disrupted for some time in some places due to technical glitches. Two incidents of violence were reported from the Mandya LS constituency. The police had to resort to mild lathicharge when two groups clashed in the village of Doddarasinakere, Ambareesh’s native place, in the presence of Nikhil. In another incident in Malavalli, some JD(S) workers reportedly thrashed a polling agent accusing him of urging citizens to vote for Sumalatha.

In Honnur of Chitradurga, a skirmish between Congress and BJP workers left one person injured.

A total of 241 candidates were in the fray across the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across the Old Mysore region and some coastal districts. This election is touted as a litmus test for the Congress-JD(S) alliance against the BJP. The outcome of the polls could have a bearing on the longevity of the Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.

Prominent candidates who went to polls on Thursday included former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumkur), his grandsons Nikhil (Mandya) and Prajwal Revanna (Hassan). Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda (Bangalore North), senior Congress leaders M Veerappa Moily (Chikkaballapur) and K H Muniyappa (Kolar) were also in the fray. BJP’s L S Tejasvi Surya faced senior Congressman B K Hariprasad in Bangalore South.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 28,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 28: Two labourers lost their lives as they were buried alive in a landslip at Karangalpady Junction near Bunts Hostel in the city today.

The landslip occurred when a compound wall collapsed burying at least five persons under the debris. It is feared that three people are still under the debris.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Masood (20) from West Bengal and Bhimappa (25) from Bagalkote.

Local police and fire fighters are carrying out rescue operation.

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News Network
May 1,2020

Bengaluru, May 1: The Karnataka government on Friday issued a show cause notice to an IAS officer over his recent tweet about coronavirus-cured Tablighi Jamaat members donating plasma for treatment of other patients.

The officer, Mohammad Mohsin, was in the news last year after the Election Commission suspended him for trying to inspect Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter during his visit to Odisha in April. He was deployed as a poll observer.

"More than 300 Tablighi Heroes are donating their plasma to serve the country in New Delhi only. What about? #Godi Media? They will not show the works of humanity done by these heroes," Mohsin said in a tweet on April 27.

A 1996 batch IAS officer from Karnataka cadre hailing from Bihar, Mohsin is currently serving as a secretary in the Backward Class Welfare Department.

The state government said the show cause notice has been issued to the officer in connection with his tweet.

"The adverse coverage this tweet has got in the media has been taken note of seriously by the government, given the serious nature of COVID-19 and the sensitivities involved," the notice, which was accessed by PTI, stated.

The government has sought a written explanation from the officer within five days for violating the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968.

It warned of action against Mohsin as per the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 if he fails to submit his reply before the deadline.

"The Karnataka government has made it clear that it would not hesitate to act even against powerful functionaries if their actions are damaging to the harmony in the state at a time when all are united in fighting COVID-19," a senior state bureaucrat said.

The Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic missionary group, shot into the limelight early this year after thousands of its members who attended a congregation in south Delhi's Nizamuddin in March tested positive for coronavirus.

After attending the event, the group's members travelled to various parts of the country, with many of them carrying the virus.

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