In Karnataka, BJP commences groundwork to topple JD(S)-Congress government

TNN
May 27, 2019

Bengaluru, May 27: Buoyed by a stupendous performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP in Karnataka appears to have begun the spade work to topple the year-old JD(S)-Congress government in the state.

This was evident on Sunday when disgruntled Congress legislators Ramesh Jarkiholi and K Sudhakar accompanied by BJP leader and former deputy CM R Ashoka met BJP leader SM Krishna at his residence in Bengaluru.

The meeting took place at the same time that Mandya MP-elect Sumalatha Ambareesh, with BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa, visited the senior Vokkaliga leader to thank him for supporting her in Mandya.

This has come at a time just when the coalition government is struggling to keep afloat following a dismal performance in the elections.

It also set off speculation that a dozen disgruntled Congress and JD(S) MLAs may resign this week to reduce the strength of ruling coalition partners in the assembly and enable the BJP to seek a floor test. However, both Congress MLAs clarified that the meeting was just a courtesy call.

"It was not a political meeting. We wanted to wish Krishnaji on BJP's stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha polls. I was an MLA even when Krishna was CM from 1999 to 2004 and we share good rapport. So only I visited to inquire about his health. That is why we met him," Jarkiholi said.

"We had nothing to discuss, we just wanted to wish him," Sudhakar said. "He is a senior leader and he was a former Congress leader that's why we felt that we must wish him on his party's success."

While Yeddyurappa deemed it a coincidence, Ashoka said he visited Krishna at the latter's residence to discuss party-related matters. "I have no friendship with Congress leaders Ramesh and Sudhakar," he said.

Miffed over being dropped from the coalition cabinet, Jarkiholi has been at the forefront of a growing group of disgruntled Congress MLAs. Sudhakar, who was denied chairmanship of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board after being appointed, has time and again dropped hints that he will quit the Congress.

BJP is the single largest party with 105 members in the 225 member assembly, while the ruling coalition has 117 members with 79 legislators from Congress, 37 from JD(S) and 1 from BSP. The Congress-JD(S) coalition is placed precariously now after BJP won the assembly seat of Chincholi in the recently concluded bypoll, taking its tally to 105 in the House.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 5,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 5: The New Mangalore Port implemented the Centre's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by screening the crew of cargo ships and passengers of Cruise Vessel for the highly contagious and deadly disease Coronavirus.

Sources in the port said that screening was being carried out at the harbour since the past few days, as a precautionary measure. All the 1,800 passengers and 786 crew of Cruise Vessel 'Costa Victoria,' which stopped at the port, were screened.

Arrangements were also made for screening foreign nationals arriving at the Mangalore International Airport (MIA). 

Besides screening, passengers were also made aware of the Coronavirus and the precautionary steps to be taken.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
March 2,2020

Udupi, Mar 2: The Kundapur police carried out raids at various clubs in Kundapur Sub-division limits and arrested around 50 persons involved in illegal gambling and seized Rs 2.5 lakhs from their possession, the police said on Monday.

According to the police, on Sunday night, based on credible information, the Kudapur Sub-division police led by ASP Hariram Shanker and team raided various clubs in Goliyangadi, Siddapur, Koteswar and Basrur where the accused were found gambling illegally.

All the clubs had taken court permission for recreation but were illegally indulging in gambling. They had also violated the court conditions and were involved in illegal gambling.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Barely 24 hours after the standoff between BJP workers and students of Jyoti Nivas College (JNC) in Bengaluru over CAA became breaking news, it took political hues with the saffron party and the Congress locking horns over the issue.

Taking the battle to the anti-CAA camp on Thursday, the BJP aggressively defended its party workers, who on Wednesday erected a pro-CAA banner on the college compound wall and allegedly forced students to sign on it as a mark of support.

With one of the workers who had locked horns with JNC students by his side, deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan, at his official residence, questioned students’ right to protest party cadre erecting a pro-CAA banner on their college compound wall.

“How can you tell people not to create awareness about a law that has been passed in this country? Who gave students the right to question political workers? If there was anything wrong, let them report to the police,” retorted the minister, who also holds the higher education department portfolio.

On the other hand, the Congress, cashing in on simmering anger over the assault on JNU students in Delhi, used the JNC standoff to project the ruling party as prime culprits in stifling the voice of students. BTM Layout MLA and seasoned politician R Ramalinga Reddy even warned the BJP against “allowing JNC to become another JNU”.

Reddy met with the JNC administration and extended his support against any “threats” to students. It is being alleged that Reddy was the first to “leak” the video of Wednesday’s row to the media. The college falls in his assembly constituency.

Taking a cue from his colleague’s stand, former CM and opposition leader Siddaramaiah also leaned into the matter and sent a strong message “backing” students in the standoff. “BJP goons are threatening students of Jyotinivas College to support CAA. MrYediyurappa, I am strictly warning you to control hooligans from your party. Don't subvert knowledge & institutions for your selfish motives. We won't let Ktaka to be victim of your Hitler rule!” said Siddaramaiah in a tweet.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.