Karnataka byelections: Congress, BJP?grapple with ticket aspirants

January 18, 2016

Bengaluru, Jan 18: Lobbying for tickets for bypolls to three Assembly constituencies of Hebbal, Bidar and Deodurg has intensified in the Congress and the BJP.

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Notification for the byelections will be issued on January 20 marking the beginning of filing of nomination papers. Elections will be held on February 13.

Deodurg MLA A Venkatesh Naik of the Congress died in a train accident in August, while BJP leaders Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli (Bidar constituency) and Jagadish Kumar (Hebbal) died following heart attack in November last.

In Hebbal, Congress MLCs Byrathi?Suresh, H?M?Revanna, R?V?Venkatesh are vying for tickets.

Former Union minister Jaffer Sharief’s grandson Rahaman Sharief, who lost the 2013 polls by a margin of 5,500 votes and Youth Congress chief Rizwan Arshad, former mayor M?Ramachandrappa are also in the aspirants’ list.

On Sunday,?Revanna met senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and is said to have explained why the party should consider him for the constituency.

In the BJP, there is a divide among party leaders whether the ticket should be given to former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu’s family. Jagadish Kumar had contested the 2013 polls after Katta was not given a ticket following corruption charges against him.

A section of party city MLAs want Katta’s wife Lalitha or his daughter-in-law Sowmya Jagadish (former corporator Katta Jagadish’s wife)?to be given the ticket.

Former police officer Abdul?Azeem, who joined the BJP?recently and party MLC?Y?Narayanaswamy have also emerged as aspirants. Azeem contested the 2013 on a JD(S)?ticket and secured 25,075 votes.

In the JD(S), party city unit chief H?M?Ramesh Gowda and Hanumanthegowda (who contested unsuccessfully from neighbouring Bytarayanapura Assembly segment) have emerged as front runners.

In Deodurg, the Congress is keen on tapping the sympathy factor and give the party ticket to Naik’s wife Savithridevi or his son Rajashekar Naik.

The BJP?has shortlisted two former ministers Shivanagouda Naik and Narasimha Naik. The party election committee, which is scheduled to meet in Bengaluru on Monday, is likely to take a final decision.

Up north in Bidar, there is a divided opinion in the BJP whether the ticket should be given to Gurupadappa’ son Suryakanth. While Suryakanth has good rapport with leaders B?S?Yeddyurappa, R?Ashoka among others, he is not popular among party cadre in his own district, sources in the party said.

In the Congress, Rahim Khan, who contested unsuccessfully and lost by 1,800 votes in 2013 has emerged as a front runner. Khan has the backing of former chief minister N?Dharam Singh.

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News Network
May 4,2024

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Mangaluru, May 4: A tragic incident unfurled last evening in Subrahmanya of Kadaba taluk in Dakshina Kananda, where a young gentleman, who had recently entered the bonds of matrimony a mere ten days hence, met his untimely demise due to a lightning strike.

As twilight descended, a tempestuous thunderstorm, accompanied by billowing rain clouds, cast its shadow over the locale.

Somasundar was diligently engaged in the task of piling up dried nuts in the yard to shield them from the impending deluge, when fate cruelly intervened, subjecting him to the fatal force of a lightning bolt.

Despite the expeditious efforts to convey him to Kadaba Community Hospital subsequent to his sudden indisposition, he tragically succumbed to his injuries. 

Somasundar, who operated a car washing enterprise in proximity to Subrahmanya, is mourned by his mother, sister, and wife.

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News Network
April 29,2024

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Bengaluru: All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba on Monday accused the BJP and JD(S) of being silent over the alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna and said the horrifying case of violence against women has shocked the nation.

"More than 3000 videos with hundreds of women being sexually harassed, violated and even brutalised by MP Prajwal Revanna over the past few years have shaken the conscience of Kannadigas and Indians alike," she told at a press conference here.

Prajwal (33) is grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. JD(S) joined the NDA in September last year. He was the NDA candidate in Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went for polls on April 26.

According to police sources, he left the country after voting was over.

The Congress government in Karnataka on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged sex scandal.

Some explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days.

Lamba said the horrifying case of sexual violence against hundreds of women has shocked the nation.

"These acts of sexual brutality against hapless women has revealed the depravity of MP Prajwal Revanna, but the silence and sheer apathy of the BJP and JDS in this horrendous case is absolutely shameful," she said.

She alleged that in these videos, some recorded against the consent of the victim, women are seen pleading to be spared but the MP continues to brutalise and sexually violate them. Party 'karyakartas', panchayat members, elderly women, women who came asking for help to him and even maids have not been spared.

"The horrible fact is, that the acts of this sexual predator MP Prajwal Revanna was endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he campaigned in Old Mysuru Region on April 14th, 2024," she alleged.

"....the BJP JDS are still silent which shows you their true Anti Woman DNA!! Will the BJP or JDS answer?".

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News Network
May 2,2024

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Hassan, May 2: JD(S) MLC Suraj Revanna on Thursday said that the scandal and charges of sexual abuse levelled against his brother and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna was a "conspiracy to weaken their family politically".

He claimed that he has no information about the whereabouts of Prajwal Revanna, who has been served a notice by the Special Investigation Team over the alleged sex scandal involving him.

He termed the scandal and charges of sexual abuse against his brother and his father and MLA H D Revanna, a former Minister, as a conspiracy to weaken them politically, and expressed confidence about Prajwal's win in the Lok Sabha polls.

H D Revanna is the son of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda. Prajwal, grandson of Deve Gowda, was the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to the polls on April 26.

"The (sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna) case has been handed over for investigation (to SIT), whatever has to be proved will get proved there. How can I react to it? I don't have information about Prajwal Revanna," Suraj Revanna told reporters here.

On an FIR being registered against his father H D Revanna too, he said, "Let them put a thousand more (FIRs), what has to be proved will ultimately get proved. People of our taluk and district know what Revanna is. I don't want to react."

"Anyone can do anything out of political malice. If you take Hassan politics, there is no competitor for Revanna. There is no one who has done politics like him. To weaken him, all these conspiracies are being hatched," he added.

Scores of explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Hassan recently. The state government has constituted an SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal involving the MP.

The SIT on Tuesday issued notice to Prajwal Revanna and his father Revanna, who have been booked for alleged sexual harassment at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district on April 28, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in their house, directing them to appear for investigation.

Prajwal who reportedly left for Germany on April 27, the very next day of the polls, on Wednesday sought seven days' time to appear before the SIT.

Regarding reports of his meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Suraj said they were mere speculations and that he had met the former in January, and after that no such meeting had taken place.

Asked whether JD(S) leaders and workers seem to be in some sort of confusion following the developments around the alleged sex scandal, the MLC said there is no confusion. "Even yesterday there were meetings held to take stock of the situation after the polls. Hundred percent Prajwal Revanna will win."

"Let anyone charge anything, let's wait and see what comes out of the SIT probe," he added.

Victims under pressure?

Meanwhile, victims in the videos of the alleged sex scandal involving the MP, are reportedly refusing to come before the SIT which is probing the case.

Some of the victims are said to have told the SIT officials that they don't want to talk to them about the case, while a few are not reachable, sources said.

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