Can JD(S) billionaire BM Farooq make it to Rajya Sabha this time?

coastaldigest.com news network
March 8, 2018

Nearly two years after a futile bid by the Janata Dal (Secular) to send its new leader BM Farooq to Rajya Sabha, the March 23 elections to the Upper House are heading for a high-pitched battle as the Karnataka’s regional party has announced the billionaire entrepreneur as its official candidate once again even though it has no hope of reaching a consensus with Congress on an alliance.

Cross-voting by JD(S) rebel MLAs in 2016 had prevent Mr Farooq’s victory. In spite of suspension by the party, the rebel legislators have not yet resigned. They are likely to join Congress after voting for Congress candidate against Farooq in upcoming RS polls.

Members of the Legislative Assembly form the electoral college for the Rajya Sabha polls. A candidate requires about 44 votes to win the polls. In the Assembly, the Congress has 122 MLAs on its side. Though the JD(S) has 37 MLAs, its rebel MLAs have pledged support to the Congress. Hence JD(S) has only 30 valid votes. The Congress is hoping to win the third seat with the help of JD(S) rebels and some independent legislators. The BJP with 46 MLAs can win one seat.

Meanwhile, JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday softened his party’s stand to woo the Congress and announced the party will continue its alliance with the Congress in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). His son and JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy had earlier threatened to withdraw support in the BBMP if the Congress didn’t support its Rajya Sabha candidate.

“Despite losing the 2016 elections, BM Farooq remained with the party and we’re bound to support him,’’ the former Prime Minister said. Within months after the poll debacle, the JD(S) had made BM Farooq as its chief general secretary.

After a core committee meeting, Gowda sent a message to the Congress leadership that it had extended its indirect support to the party by not fielding candidates in Gundlupet and Nanjangud byelections and it expected the same for Farooq.

“Even in the case of getting Kupendra Reddy elected, the Congress did not field a candidate in 2014. Now, when it’s the turn of B M Farooq, why is the Congress, which claims to have been a guardian angel of minorities, trying to oppose us?” asked Gowda.

According to sources, Congress may field Gandhi family loyalist and technocrat Sam Pitroda or senior leader Janardan Dwivedi from Karnataka for the RS polls. Meanwhile, CM Siddaramaiah is reportedly lobbying for his close friend and realtor P R Channa Reddy to be the third candidate.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said its list of three candidates will be out in two days. “There is no question of alliance with JD(S), as we’ll be fielding three candidates at the RS polls,” said KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao.

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News Network
May 1,2020

Bengaluru, May 1: Karnataka government has assigned State Nodal Officers after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order regarding the inter-state movement of stranded migrant workers, tourists, pilgrims and students during the lockdown period.

The Nodal officers have also been appointed for coordination with 11 different states.

In an order issued on Thursday, Karnataka Government wrote, "To facilitate smooth and orderly movement of persons across State borders as per SOPs, the undersigned, in the exercise of powers conferred under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and in the capacity as Chairman, State Executive Committee, hereby appoint the following officers as Nodal officers to coordinate with Nodal Officers of States/Union Territories (UTs) mentioned against their names."

Dr Rajkumar Khatri, IAS and Arun Jeji Chakravarthy, IPS will be overall in charge of the movement of stranded people from outside States/UTs to Karnataka.

N Manjunatha Prasad, IAS and P S Sandhu, IPS will be overall in charge of the movement of stranded people from Karnataka to other States/UTs.

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News Network
July 26,2020

Bellary,  Jul 26: A 100-year-old woman resident of Huvina Hadagali town in Bellary district, Karnataka, recovered from COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus earlier this month.

"Doctors treated me well. Along with regular food, I was eating an apple a day. The doctors are giving me tablets and injection, and I am healthy now. COVID-19 is like a common cold," said Hallamma while speaking to news agency.

The woman's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson had also tested positive for the virus, and the family was treated at their home.

According to health department officials, her son works at a bank and had tested positive on July 3, after which Hallamma tested positive on July 16; the 100-year-old reported negative for the virus on July 22.

Meanwhile, the covid-19 death toll in the country rose to 32,063 with 705 fatalities being recorded in a day on Sunday. The number of tests for detection of covid-19 has crossed the 16-million mark in the country.

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News Network
March 27,2020

Thiruvanathapuram, Mar 27: The state is heading for its worst ever crisis with coronavirus cases increasing rapidly and Kasargod district the worst hit. On Friday alone 39 positive cases were reported in the state of which 34 are from Kasargod.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the situation is grave and Kasargod has been the worst hit. More than the positive cases reported in the district, the worrying factor is that many people have come into contact with these positive cases.

The chief minister warned that the government will be forced to declare the names of the people who are defying the quarantine guidelines in the district. More people have been put under risk in the district and the district administration is much concerned since the results of 215 samples are yet to come.

There is no other way but to tighten the restrictions imposed in the district against the people coming out of their houses. The government has decided to provide more facilities to the hospitals in Kasargod and Kannur to meet an emergency.

The medical college hospital in Kannur will be converted into a coronavirus hospital with 200 bed strength. Steps have been taken to equip the medical college hospital with more facilities. The Central University at kasargood will be converted into as a temporary coronavirus treatment centre. 

The state has also requested permission from ICMR to begin the testing facility here, said the chief minister.

The total number of positive cases reported in the state have now become 176 of which 12 have been discharged after testing negative. At present 164 positive people are admitted in several hospitals of the state.

On Friday of the 39 positive cases, two are from Kannur and one each from Thrissur, Kollam and Kozhikode. With this all the districts in the state have been now affected with coronavirus.

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