Former Karnataka minister who joined Cong last year now ready to jump back to BJP

News Network
October 25, 2019

Mysuru, Oct 25: Former minister and Congress leader C H Vijayashankar is likely to return to his former party, the BJP, ahead of bypolls in Karnataka.

Vijayashankar met BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel on Thursday, a day after Kateel and chief minister BS Yediyurappa discussed bringing him back into the party fold during a meeting on Wednesday.

During the meeting in Bengaluru, local leaders from Hunsur had told party brass that they had no objection to Vijayashankar’s return.

A two-time MP and former MLC, Vijayashankar was a minister in Yediyurappa’s earlier government, but switched to the Congress last year. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah had pushed Vijayashankar’s case hard with the Congress high command and fielded him in the Lok Sabha polls from Mysuru, but he lost. Now, he is set to return to the saffron party.

Former minister and Mysuru district BJP president M Shivanna, said: “Some leaders from Mysuru asked party leaders to re-induct Vijayashankar. They are open to the idea. I contacted the former minister and sought his opinion. He said he will consider it seriously.”

With the inclusion of Vijayashankar, a Kuruba, the BJP is looking to strengthen its base in Hunsur ahead of the December 5 bypoll. Vijayashankar, who represented Hunsur and Periyapatna assembly segments, has indicated that he wants to return to state politics.

With Congress leaders having previously represented Hunsur and Periyapatna assembly segments, he is unlikely to get the Congress ticket to contest the assembly polls. It is this which has pushed him back to the BJP.

However, it’s unclear whether he would get the BJP ticket either since Yediyurappa has insisted disqualified MLAs would be given preference. The Hunsur seat feel vacant as AH Vishwanath resigned, paving the way for the BJP to form the government.

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News Network
May 27,2020

Kalaburgi, May 27: Karnataka's Kalaburgi district recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, as per information provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In light of the increasing mercury levels, people here were seen consuming sugarcane juice and cold drinks to beat the heat. Animals and birds could also be seen searching for water for relief from the scorching sun.

Locals of the area requested the district administration to take necessary actions such as spraying water on roads, in order to bring down the temperatures.

"We are facing huge heat waves in this district from the past two days, and even the temperature is around 44 to 45 degrees on a daily basis. So, it is a very alarming situation in Kalaburgi. When we move around the city, we are unable to find water and fresh fruit juice, and even if fresh juice is available, we are afraid of getting infected by COVID-19," said one local.

"If we carry cold water, it gets warm within half an hour, and gets unfit for drinking, and it is tough for us. I request the district administration to look into this matter and do the needful such as spraying water on the roads, etc. for slightest relief," he added.

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July 28,2020

Bengaluru, July 28: Former prime minister and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda today threatened to launch a state-wide agitation in against the amendments made to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

Gowda’s opposition to the new law comes even as Congress leader Siddaramaiah is also doggedly pursuing it.

Demanding that the state government immediately rollback the ordinance empowering these amendments, the octogenarian leader said he personally would take to streets if the government failed to budge.

The B S Yediyurappa government has liberalised the land reforms law by removing restrictions on non-agriculturists from purchasing and owning farm lands.

The government has also amended the APMC Act and has tweaked labour laws, which are all “against the interest of the state and must be rolled back,” Gowda said.

Speaking to reporters here, Gowda stated that he had already written thrice to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in this regard. "The ordinances have to be taken back. The amendments to Karnataka Land Reforms Act, by repealing sections 79-A, B and C, is an anti-farmer move. The APMC Act amendment, too, is against the interest of the state. The government has failed to speak about the impact of these amendments," said Gowda, who is now a Rajya Sabha member.

Elaborating on the amendment to the Land Reform Act, the JD(S) patriarch opined that by throwing open agricultural land ownership to anybody at all, the government was only helping real estate developers while pushing farmers into a “vulnerable” situation.

Amidst all this, there are now reports of funds misappropriation in Covid-19 relief measures and in procurement of medical equipment, he said, adding that it seemed like only the corrupt became stronger over time.

Further, Gowda lambasted both national parties for creating political unrest, referring to the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan and the recent developments in Madhya Pradesh. However, he added that he would not wish to dwell on it much, while emphasising that his focus was primarily on strengthening his own party at this point in time.

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News Network
March 1,2020

Udupi, Mar 1: Acting on credible information, Udupi district police arrested five persons and seized 1.35 kg of crude gold worth Rs 56.99 lakh from the possession of the accused, custom department said on Sunday.

A case has been registered against four people at Kundapur and one at Byndoor on charges of gold smuggling. The accused were transporting gold from Calicut to Bhatkal, informed Joannes George, joint Commissioner of Customs.

Off these five accused, four persons were held at Kundapur, while other at Byndoor on Saturday evening.

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