Congress netas blame pact with JD(S), factionalism for poll rout

TNN
June 27, 2019

Bengaluru, Jun 27: The Congress leadership on Wednesday heard angry remonstrances from senior figures and election candidates from Karnataka, who blamed their rout in the Lok Sabha polls on factionalism in the party and the ill-considered alliance with the JD(S).

KC Venugopal, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Karnataka in-charge, held discussions with 16 of the 21 candidates who lost.

Former Union ministers Veerappa Moily and KH Muniyappa were among the politicians who expressed their displeasure at the party’s failure to rein in factions, which they said hurt their chances.

The upset group put Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao in an uncomfortable position by naming members who allegedly worked against the party’s candidates in Kolar and Ballari. A sitting Congress legislator, a minister from Ballari and a prominent leader from Kolar were identified as the mischief-makers.

According to party sources, Muniyappa, who served seven terms as an MP before losing in Kolar this time, criticised the party high command for favouring a certain faction. He was overheard saying: “Leaders will come and go, but the Congress party has to remain.”

Other defeated candidates at the meeting claimed several MLAs and Congress leaders worked against the party’s interests because of “political compulsions”. They also criticised the fractious partnership with the JD(S), saying it handed the BJP a big advantage and cost the Congress most of the “winnable” seats. The leaders, according to the sources, also cited the lack of coordination at the cadre level as one of the main reasons for the drubbing.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) also featured in the discussions, with the attendees voicing concerns about tampering and demanding the party press for return of the ballot system. The Election Commission of India has repeatedly rejected the claims about EVM manipulation.

Venugopal asked the candidates who lost to help the Congress restructure the cadre in every constituency. “We were told there will be another meeting in four days to analyse the reasons for the loss. Constituencywise data will be reviewed,” a leader said. “We will also be focusing on a renewed membership drive.”

Congress insiders said a four-member team was already gathering reports on the party’s performance from across the state and identifying troublemakers.

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News Network
May 12,2020

Bengaluru, May 12: Nurses are the frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19 and their commitment towards duty is commendable, said Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on World Nurses Day on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of Miss Florence Nightingale's bicentennial anniversary organized by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences at his home office 'Krishna'.

The Chief Minister said that the care and service provided by the nurses enhance the chances of recovery for any patient.

"In spite of the stress and pressure they go through everyday, nurses render quality service in the providing healthcare. There is an enormous demand for nurses around the world. I appeal to nurses to continue to render their quality service in this fight against COVID," he said.

Speaking at the event, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that the nurses are the backbone of the healthcare services and their role in the fight against corona is so large that the whole system would have gone for a toss without their services.

The Minister said that the Nurses have been renamed as Nursing Officers in recognition of their service.

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News Network
February 12,2020

New Delhi, Feb 12: Buoyed by the Aam Aadmi Party's stellar performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Maharashtra unit of the party has decided to fight all forthcoming local elections, including the Mumbai elections.

The AAP’s Bengaluru unit will also contest the municipal corporation polls likely to take place in August or September.

AAP National Executive Member Preeti Sharma Menon said the party will try to “replicate the Delhi model of pragmatism, performance, and people centric policies”.

“We are sure that Maharashtra will shower us with the same faith and love as Delhi has done so,” she said.

The party has decided to field candidates in all the 198 wards of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

"We have been planning to contest the BBMP election when we received a major shot in the arm. The Delhi victory happened because of the good work, which we want to replicate here," AAP's co-convener in Karnataka and party's BBMP campaign in charge Shanthala Damle told PTI on Tuesday.

Born out of an anti-corruption movement, the AAP led by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal registered the second landslide victory by winning 63 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections.

According to Damle, AAP in Bengaluru was working in full swing to make its presence felt in the city. "The party has already done its ground workin terms of election campaign and reaching out to the people in Bengaluru," she added.

According to her, the party has already opened around 10 offices and about 50 people have been announced as the assembly president or ward president.

Last month, the party launched a 40-minute movie called 'Hosa Bengaluru' (New Bengaluru) and conducted 50 shows already.

"It shows the Delhi model and explains what can be done in Bengaluru. So that is part of our vision," the AAP leader said.

In its next level of the campaign, AAP intends to conduct 'Jana Samvada' (Dialogue with people) in every street and in every ward.

The preparedness of the party can be gauged from the fact that it has identified many of its candidates for the BBMP elections.

The party has never tasted success in Karnataka anywhere but the Delhi's success story has kindled a new hope as many people would now be waiting to join the AAP, Damle said. The AAP cadres in Bengaluru burst into celebration soon after it became clear that the party was going to script history by forming government for the third consecutive time since its inception.

Sporting their signature caps, party workers lit crackers, danced on the Delhi election song 'Lage Raho Kejriwal'.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Udupi, Apr 29: Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kit used by the doctors to treat COVID-19 patients was found in the river at Kodangala, Alevoor Gram Panchayat limits, sources said on Wednesday.

According to them, a Panchayat office staff who noticed the PPE thrown in the river informed the Health Department about it on Tuesday and following which a police complaint was filed.

As the PPE is used only for medical treatment, police officials need to investigate who used the kit and in which hospital, who threw it in the river and the purpose of throwing it.

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