BJP's Ram Nath Kovind appears set for comfortable win

Mangaluru, Mar 27: Thousands of letters are pending at various Post offices in Dakshina Kannada for delivery since declaration of lockdown due to Corona virus which is spreading like wildfire in the country.

Of the 542 offices in the district, only eight are functioning and the only post office opened in the district facilitates only withdrawal of funds by the customers, district senior official said here on Friday.

There are in all 53 departmental offices and 96 branch offices in Mangaluru Taluk and about 4,000 general postcards and 1,000 Registered and Speed Posts are pending for delivery. Also, there are a total of 393 post offices in the Puttur division and only a few are opened. About 48 postal bags are pending and there are about 200-300 postcards in each bag.

Bengaluru, Jun 20: Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah has slammed BJP leader and former Congress MP and MLA H Vishwanath for blaming him for not getting MLC ticket.

Siddaramaiah said, "H Vishwanath is neither a fool nor intelligent, that's why he's blaming me for not getting ticket. He is in BJP and I'm in congress how will I influence his ticket."

He also slammed Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, "Yediyurappa is toothless to speak to PM and asking for funds which need to be allotted to Karnataka including 5,049 crores, which 15th finance Commission suggested."

"No pro-people schemes must be stopped including Indira canteen, Yediyurappa thinks Indira canteen will bring good name to me that's why this government is trying to stop it," he added.

He was speaking after a protest organised at Mysuru against the hike in fuel prices.

Bengaluru, Jul 10: Alarmed by the surging COVID-19 cases across the state, especially in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday urged the state capital’s residents not to visit their villages to prevent the infection’s spread.

“I urge the people of Bengaluru not to travel to their villages and prevent the infection from spreading in rural areas,” Yediurappa told reporters.

Admitting that the battle against the virus would be long, he said that the fight against COVID-19 could be won only through persistent efforts and with people’s cooperation with the frontline ‘warriors’.

“Combating the pandemic through preventive measures, providing treatment to the infected and saving lives are our priority,” he said.

With a record 2,228 positive cases on Thursday, the southern state’s COVID-19 tally shot up to 31,105, including 17,782 active cases, while 457 people have died of the infection till date, 17 just in the last 24 hours.

Of the new cases in the state, Bengaluru accounted for 1,373, taking its tally to 13,882, including 10,870 active, while 177 have succumbed to the virus since March 9.

No deaths were, however, reported in the city on Thursday.

Of the 457 patients in intensive care units (ICU) across the state, 292 are in Bengaluru hospitals.

Since unlock began on June 1, COVID-19 cases shot up to 15,242 on June 30 from 3,221 on May 31 and to 31,105 in 9 days since July 1.

Similarly, in Bengaluru, positive cases shot up to 4,555 on June 30 from 358 on May 31 and rose to 13,882 in 9 days since July 1.

The Chief Minister also appealed to all legislators of the ruling and opposition parties to give priority to contain the disease in their Assembly segments.

“Visit the COVID-19 designated hospitals and inspect if the required facilities are in place and bring any shortcomings to our notice,” the CM said