EVMs to have candidates' photos

Bengaluru, Jun 22: Senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad and BJP’s MTB Nagaraj, one of the defectors who helped the saffron party come to power in Karnataka, were unanimously elected to the Legislative Council along with five others on Monday. 

All seven were declared as “duly elected” by Legislative Assembly Secretary MK Vishalakshi, the returning officer for the biennial election to the Legislative Council. 

Hariprasad and Naseer Ahmed of the Congress, Nagaraj, R Shankar, Prathap Simha Nayak and Sunil Vallyapur of the BJP and Govinda Raju of the JD(S) are now MLCs. 

While Ahmed was an incumbent who will get another term, the six others will replace Jayamma, MC Venugopal, NS Bore Raju, HM Revanna and TA Sharavana and DU Mallikarjuna whose term ends June 30. 

While an election was scheduled June 29, it was not necessary as only seven candidates were in the fray for the seven seats on Monday, which was the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The nominations of A Yadavanahalli PC Krishnegowda and Mandikkal Nagaraja were rejected. 

With their rejection as MLCs, Nagaraj and Shankar - who jumped ship to the BJP last year - will now look to become ministers in Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s Cabinet. Both Nagaraj and Shankar were ministers when they resigned and defected from the Congress-JD(S) coalition. While Nagaraj lost the December 2019 bypolls, Shankar did not contest. 

Nagaraj, Shankar and Vallyapure were Yediyurappa’s picks for the Council, whereas Nayak is said to have been backed by BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. 

There were many aspirants in the Congress for the Council berths, but Hariprasad and Ahmed were picked, given their experience. Hariprasad is widely believed to counter Siddaramaiah, who leads the party in the Assembly. 

Raju of the JD(S) runs a poultry business in Kolar and the choice of a fresh face is seen as the party leadership steering clear of any trouble as there were many asking for the ticket. 

Mysuru, Jan 11: City Police has intensified its search for a girl student who a displayed 'Free Kashmir' poster during a protest two days back.

According to police, a girl student displayed the poster carrying an anti-national message, during the protest organised by University of Mysore Researchers Association and other organisation on Wednesday to oppose the attack on the students and the teachers in Jawaharlal Nehru University in the National Capital. An officer said that as per the documents available, it appears that a girl student displayed the placard for a few minutes.

"We are looking for the accused". The Jayalakshmipuram police have taken up suo motu cognisance of the case. Meanwhile. the office of Governor Vajubhai Vala, on Thursday, sought a detailed report from the University of Mysore (UoM) over the incident. The city police have booked the protestors under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Alappuzha, Jan 4: The management committee of a mosque in Kerala is all set to solemnize the wedding of a Hindu couple, setting yet another instance of the communal harmony prevailing in Kerala.

The Cheravally Muslim Jamaat Committee at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district in South Kerala is conducting the marriage of Anju and Sharath after the bride's mother approached the Jamaat authorities seeking help. 

The marriage will be held at the mosque premises on January 19 as per Hindu rituals and the Jamaat Committee has also prepared the invitations.

Anju's father Ashokan died a few years back and her mother Bindhu was struggling to win bread for her three children. Nujumudeen Alummoottil, a businessman and secretary of the Jamaat had helped the family earlier also.

Hence Bindu sought his help for the marriage of Anju. Nujumudeen discussed it with other members of the Jamaat committee and members of the mosque.

Najumudeen said that there was no hesitation from anyone on conducting the marriage by the mosque at its premises. A gift in cash and gold would be also given to the couple.

Kerala recently witnessed a church allowing the Muslim believers who participated in an anti-CAA meet to offer namaz at the church premises and another church conducting a carol service with the youth of the parish dressed up in traditional Muslim attire.