Cong-JDS alliance aims to reduce BJP's strength in LS, says Danish Ali

Agencies

March 5, 2019

Bengaluru, Mar 5: The main objective of Congress-JDS alliance is to reduce the strength of BJP in the Lok Sabha, for which the two parties are working on strategies for the coming General Elections, said alliance leader Danish Ali here on Monday.

Ali, secretary general of Janata Dal-Secular (JDS), said the Coordination Committee meeting of the alliance discussed various issues related to seat-sharing between the two parties for the coming Lok Sabha polls.

"Many formulae are on the table. Our main motive is how we should defeat the BJP on the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats. How we should cut down the BJP's strength from Karnataka is the common goal for Congress and JDS," he told media persons after the meeting.

"We are discussing each and every seat. We will take care of the aspirations of each other while finalsing the seats we will contest. However, the final decision will be taken by Congress and JDS presidents," he said.

Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that the final decision on seat-sharing would soon be announced. "We have had a good discussion today. We are going in the right direction. In a few days, we will give the final picture," he said.

Former Prime Minister and JDS president HD Deve Gowda said on Sunday that they had agreed to join hands with the Congress to revive secular forces. "The two parties will finalise seat-sharing very soon," he had said.

On February 28, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had said that if the Congress and JDS alliance won at least 20-22 seats in the state, then a Kannadiga could once again become the next Prime Minister of the country.

There are 28 Lok Sabha seats at stake in Karnataka, out of which the BJP currently holds 16 seats, while the Congress and the JDS hold 10 and two seats, respectively.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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