JD(S), BJP slam Ramya for questioning Sangh Parivar's role in freedom struggle

Mangaluru, Feb 28: BJP Corporator in Mangaluru's ward number 46 (Cantonment), Divakar, has been elected as the Mayor of the city on Friday. While Janaki aka Vedavathi, Corporator of ward number 9 (Kulai), has been elected as the Deputy Mayor.

Divakar secured 46 votes including that of MLAs D Vedavyasa Kamath and Dr Y Bharath Shetty.

Regional Commissioner V Yashwanth conducted the election at the Council Hall of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC).

Two nominations were filed for the post of Mayor. Congress had fielded Keshav, representing ward 37 (Maroli) for the post of Mayor. Keshav secured 15 votes including that of MLC Ivan D'Souza.

Congress had fielded Zeenath Samshuddin of ward number 44 (Bunder) for the post of Deputy Mayor and secured 17 votes.

Two Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) corporators remained neutral for the post of Mayor while they supported the candidature of Zeenath Samshuddin of Congress for the Deputy Mayor post. Janaki aka Vedavathi of the BJP secured 46 votes.

The BJP had swept the elections to the 60-member council held on November 12 by winning 44 wards, while the Congress won 14 wards. Social Democratic Party of India won two seats.

Election to the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was conducted as per the reservation roaster for the 21st term dated September 3, 2018. Accordingly, the Mayor's post was reserved for candidate from BCM ‘A’ category while that of Deputy Mayor for woman general.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 15: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan''s daughter Veena married top DYFI All India president Mohammed Riaz at the chief minister''s official residence in the presence of selected guests.

Riaz and Veena became husband and wife at a solemn function held under Covid protocols with not more than 50 people present.

This was the second marriage for both, as their first ones ended in divorce.

Riaz has two children, while Veena has a son from their respective previous marriages.

Riaz is a lawyer by profession and had contested the Kozhikode Lok Sabha seat in 2009 but lost to the Congress'' M.K.Raghavan.

Veena runs her own software company in Bengaluru.

While the marriage has already been registered recently, the wedding event was a closed door affair, with just very close relatives of the couple besides a few senior party colleagues of Vijayan.

Bengaluru, Apr 14: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to extend COVID-19 lockdown till May 3.

"Our government will strictly implement the Government of India guidelines, which will be issued tomorrow. Lockdown will be followed more stringently till April 20 as Prime Minister said and the situation will be closely monitored. I appeal to the people of Karnataka to voluntarily cooperate with us to contain this disease," Yediyurappa said.

The chief minister urged the people to respect seven major points that Prime Minister Modi raised in his televised address to the nation on Tuesday, while announcing the extension of coronavirus-induced lockdown.

"I appeal to people to follow the seven measures Prime Minister advised to follow, such as taking care of elders in the house especially those suffering from chronicle illness; strictly maintaining social distancing; enhancing immunity by following guidelines of Ayush Department; download Arogyasetu app; help the poor and needy; to be considerate about your colleagues and employees and not to sack them; and respect the police, healthcare professionals," Yediyurappa added.

The chief minister also assured that there is no scarcity of medicines, essential services and goods.

"We will make all efforts to carry out agriculture activities without any hurdle. I make a special appeal to migrant labours to stay wherever they are and be safe... Stay home and be safe," he said.

According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 247 COVID-19 positive cases in Karnataka including 59 cured, discharged, migrated and six deaths.