SP MP Naresh links Hindu gods to alcohol, apologises after outrage

New Delhi, Feb 17: The Congress high command is likely to announce the party’s key troubleshooter in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar as the next state unit president with MB Patil as the working president, according to party leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity, in what could be a delicate balancing act between competing caste claims in the state..

Former CM S Siddaramaiah is likely to continue as the Congress Legislature Party leader, the leaders added.

The KPCC presidentship has been vacant ever since the incumbent Dinesh Gundu Rao resigned following the defeat in the bypolls, in which the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) won 12 of the 15 seats, ensuring a majority for itself in the state assembly.

The state leadership issue became contentious following that, with Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, lobbying to ensure that his role as party’s main go-to man during difficult times be rewarded, the leaders cited above said. Patil, a former home minister and a Lingayat leader, was the favoured choice of Siddaramaiah, they added.

A former minister in the Siddaramiah cabinet told HT on condition of anonymity the appointment was now “just a formality”.

“How long could the current uncertainty continue? Shivakumar is a go-getter who can also help generate funds for the party. For instance, on the Bidar school sedition issue, we were late and started an agitation only after the accused got bail. With Shivakumar at the helm, we will be more aggressive and able to put the BJP government on a mat by highlighting all their omissions and commissions,” the former minister added.

The decision to appoint Shivakumar -- a seven-term MLA who served in the cabinets of former CMs S Bangarappa, SM Krishna, Siddaramiah and HD Kumaraswamy -- is likely to be a controversial one. He faces ongoing income tax and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probes, is currently on bail after being jailed by the ED in a money laundering case. He

In his 2018 poll affidavit, Shivakumar declared assets worth Rs 840 crore, making him one of the richest politicians in the state. His brother DK Suresh is a two term parliamentarian and is the sitting MP from the Bangalore Rural constituency.

Shivakumar’s latest move to build the world’s largest Christ statue in his constituency in Kanakapura has also come in for severe attack from Sangh Parivar outfits, who claim the land he donated was government-owned and illegally usurped by him.

Political analyst Manjunath said that Shivakumar, if appointed, is likely to inject a great degree of dynamism into the functioning of the party.

“He sees himself as a future Chief Minister and is very ambitious. If the appointments are confirmed, it will only vindicate the fact that the party high command has tried to balance caste interests by having a Vokkilga, a Lingayat and a Kuruba – the three leading castes in the state - heading different parts of the party. Also since the BJP is making a concerted effort to break into the Vokkaliga votebank, nominating Shivakumar would be a smart move to consolidate the community behind the party,” he said.

Bengaluru, Jul 9: The State Education Minister of Karnataka clarifies that 2nd PUC result 2020 to be declared around July 20. The Minister’s tweet signals that Karnataka Second Pre- University examinations result is not releasing today, and likely to be declared around July 20, 2020.

Taking on his tweeter account Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Thursday informed that the 2nd PUC results (Class 12th) would not be declared on Thursday, that is on July 9 and would be available around 20th July. Earlier students presuming the result on Thursday had been started asking Education Minister whether Karnataka 2nd PUC Results would be announced today or not.

Addressing the students quarries, on Thursday Education Minister S Suresh Kumar took to his tweeter account and tweeted, “2nd PUC results are not announcing today, the results would be released around July 20, 2020”, or the second last week of July. Education Minister took to his twitter account to console the students, he tweeted “Many students are calling me to know whether Second PUC results will be announced Today. I once again inform all that Second PUC results will come out around 20th July.

Many students are calling me to know whether Second PUC results will be announced Today.

I once again inform all that Second PUC results will come out around 20th July.

— S.Suresh Kumar, Minister - Govt of Karnataka (@nimmasuresh) July 9, 2020

Earlier, the education minister informed that Karnataka Secondary School Leaving Certificate Exam, SSLC Results 2020 would release most likely by August first week and Second Pre-University (2nd PUC) Results 2020 would be declared by last week of July.

Karnataka earlier decided to hold the Board exams in spite of the opposition faced due to health risks over Corona Virus. The remaining SSLC & 2nd PUC examinations in Karnataka took place with the strict precautionary measures. The Education Minister himself carried out the inspection of many exam centres during the exams, a report said.

Evaluating the answer copies of exams, now results are to be declared in the month of July and August 2020. To get the result updates students are advised to keep visiting the official website of Department of Pre-University Education, Karnataka.

Bengaluru, Apr 1: After fake sanitisers and masks, Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have busted another racket and seized fake thermometers worth Rs 8 lakh, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Based on credible information, police conducted the raid on Prajval Surgical and Scientific store located on the first floor of a commercial building in the first block, Rajajinagar. They arrested store manager Keshavan N, 32, a resident of Kurubarahalli.

The police have seized 70 fake infrared forehead thermometers and 60 batteries used in these thermometers. They were worth around Rs 8 lakh as per the price they charged customers for each thermometer.