It's Kateel vs Joshi for BJP State president post

[email protected] (News Network)
July 18, 2012

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Bangalore, July 18: The tug-of-war between BJP leaders in Karnataka has continued with Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi emerging as strong contenders for the post of State Bharatiya Janata Party president.

The need for choosing a new president has arisen as incumbent president K S Eshwarappa has become Deputy Chief Minister. Mr. Eshwarappa has to give up the party post as party norms do not allow a person to hold two important positions simultaneously.

The party is likely to choose the new president within a week.

While Mr. Kateel is being preferred by the party organisation, especially those from the camp of the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Mr. Joshi is said to have the strong backing of party national general secretary Ananth Kumar.

While Mr. Kateel hails from the coastal belt, Mr. Gowda's native region, Mr. Joshi belongs to Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar's home district of Hubli-Dharwad.

Though Social Welfare Minister A. Narayanaswamy's name is also being considered, the choice appears to have narrowed down to Mr. Kateel and Mr. Joshi.

Some of the staunch supporters of Mr. Gowda have been demanding that he should be given the party president's post as a mark of respect for vacating the chief ministerial post.

But party sources made it clear that the chances of Mr. Gowda becoming party State president were remote going by the caste and community equations of its top leaders, as already R. Ashok, who is a Vokkaliga, has been elevated to the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the group of dissident MLAs, who have raised a banner of rebellion against the party leadership over not giving them ministerial berths, is meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday to decide their future course of action.


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News Network
January 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 27: Leaders cutting across political parties in Karnataka condoled the demise of former minister Amarnath Shetty, who passed away on Monday after a prolonged illness.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed “shock” over the death of the former minister. “May his soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family members,” tweeted CM’s official Twitter handle.

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News Network
July 16,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 16: Rattled by the spurt in Covid-19 positive cases, a Karnataka minister on Wednesday said only god would save the people from coronavirus pandemic.

"Only god has to save us from the virus or the people should be made aware of the infection so that they wear mask and maintain social distancing," state Health Minister B Sriramulu told reporters in Chitradurga, 205-km northwest of Bengaluru.

Noting that the infection does not differentiate between rich and poor, police, doctors, politicians or legislators, Sriramulu said the communicable disease could rise to alarming level in the ensuing two months, as the cases were rising daily the world over.

"Who can control coronavirus? In the present situation, only god has to save us. Otherwise, the people should become aware of its (virus) consequences. If we have made mistakes, we are ready to face punishment for them," said Sriramulu, who is the ruling BJP's legislator from the Molakalmuru reserved assembly segment in the district.

Refuting the opposition Congress charge that the cases were rising in the state due to negligence by ministers, officials and legislators, Sriramulu said Karnataka was performing better than other states till the cases began to steadily rise since unlock started and the people were moving in violation of the guidelines.

A record 3,176 cases were reported from across the southern state during the day, taking the Covid tally to a whopping 47,253, including 27,853 active cases after 18,466 were discharged, with 1,076 during the day, while 928 succumbed to the virus, with 87 in the last 24 hours.

In Bengaluru, which is under 9-day lockdown since Tuesday night till July 22 morning, 1,975 positive cases were registered, taking its tally to 22,944, including 17,051 active after 5,455 were discharged so far, with 463 during the day, while 437 died of the infection, with 60 in the last 24 hours.

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News Network
July 29,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 29: A day after Congress staged a nationwide 'Save Democracy' protest, Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy slammed Congress for "dividing" the political parties and "buying MLAs" and questioned their "democratic behaviour" to lure Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs who supported them.

Kumaraswamy, in a media statement, said, "Is it a democratic behaviour to lure MLAs of other parties through political shenanigans and later merging with them?"

"Congress is an expert in dividing political parties and purchase of MLAs," said Kumaraswamy adding, "If you are dividing the like-minded party MLAs through deceit, who would support you?"

He alleged that the term "horse trade" in politics came to be used because of Congress.

Congress had tied to divide the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2004. To this, he added, "To avoid the party being hijacked by the Congress, I had to oust the Congress-JD(S) coalition government through a political coup."

Kumaraswamy further accused, "Haven't the Congress who is making a big noise about the purchase of MLAs divided the JD(S) in the past? Is it not a fact that for the sake of one Rajya Sabha seat, the Congress government in Karnataka purchased eight JD(S) MLAs?"

Both -- Congress and BJP -- are "criminals" in purchase matter, he added.

Rajasthan Congress is in turmoil after simmering differences between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot came out in the open. Pilot was removed as the Deputy Chief Minister and the state unit chief of Congress.

The Congress has accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to bring down the Gehlot government. The BJP has rejected the allegations.

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