DKS-HDK meet fuels talk of Cong-JD(S) pact after Karnataka bypolls

News Network
December 3, 2019

Hubballi/Belagavi, Dec 3: Fickle weather and flight change led to an unscheduled parley between Vokkaliga heavyweights DK Shivakumar and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy at Hubballi airport on Monday.

The Congress and JD(S) politicians spoke behind closed doors in the airport’s VIP lounge, reportedly discussing a possible post-poll alliance between the two parties in case BJP falls short of the six seats it needs to stay in power.

Veteran Congress figure and former Union minister M Veerappa Moily also provided fuel to the speculation about a patch-up between the two parties. He reiterated that Congress would join hands with JD(S) after the results of the bypolls were announced on December 9.

Moily, who was in Hunsur, Mysuru district, said the Congress high command would intervene and strike a deal and that currently, none of the state party members were opposed to the idea.

On who would lead the new alliance, Moily said the issue was inconsequential at this juncture, adding it would be decided later and the arrangement followed in Maharashtra had opened new avenues. Kumaraswamy’s authority as the head of the previous coalition government was repeatedly challenged by loyalists of Congress’s Siddaramaiah.

On Monday, Shivakumar was supposed to visit Belagavi to campaign for Congress candidates, but he cut short the trip after he was summoned by income tax officials in Bengaluru. He was waiting at Hubbali airport to board a flight for Bengaluru. Around the same time, Kumaraswamy, who had been travelling from Belagavi to Chikkaballapur for campaigning, was forced to land in Hubballi because of bad weather. The circumstances led to a chance meeting between the two.

Party sources said Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar spoke about burying differences for the time being and forging a 2018-like partnership to take on BJP. The developments in Maharashtra, where a three-party coalition of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP outwitted BJP, featured prominently in the discussion.

The two refused to speak to media after the meeting.

JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda, who was campaigning in Gokak, Belagavi district, took a different position on a possible alliance on Monday, days after hinting that he was open to a partnership with Sonia Gandhiled Congress. He said he would strengthen his party, keeping it away from both Congress and BJP.

“I have had experience (of running a government) with both parties. Keeping both at a distance, saying namasakara to both of them, I will work beyond my limits to strengthen my party,” he said.

Kumaraswamy, meanwhile, said in Belagavi he was not interested in becoming the chief minister again. He said senior Congressmen like Mallikarjun Kharge, Moily and Siddaramaiah might be commenting on a potential partnership based on their own calculations. “But things never go as per one’s calculations,” he said.

Kumaraswamy predicted JD(S) would win six to eight seats out the 15 constituencies where bypolls are scheduled.

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News Network
March 27,2024

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday launched simultaneous raids in multiple places, including Bengaluru and Shivamogga.

Reports suggested that the ongoing raids are in connection with the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe on March 1. The blast had injured at least ten people as per the police report.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) had launched an investigation alongside the NIA, and the trail of the suspect led them to Tumakuru first and subsequently to Ballari. Investigators believe that the bomb was planted by Mussavir Hussain Shazib, a handler of the Islamic State’s Shivamogga module who was aided by another IS handler called Ahmed Taahaa.

Sources in the know said that Shazib and Taahaa had stayed in Chennai for about a month between January and February using fake credentials. The names of the suspects were identified after they traced the cap worn by Shazib to a shop in a mall in Chennai. The cap, which was abandoned by the bomber in Bengaluru after the blast, was reportedly bought by Taahaa, around January-end.

As per the NIA, Shazib hails from Masjid Road in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga district, and Taahaa from Fish Market Road, Soppu Gude, Thirthahalli Rural. Both "wanted" suspects have been termed "absconders" by the NIA.

The NIA has questioned seven jailed terror suspects so far in connection with the blast. The investigation agency had also obtained seven-day custody of a jailed terror suspect named Maaz Muneer Ahmed.

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News Network
March 13,2024

siddudupi.jpg

Udupi, Mar 13: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah today said that Congress in coastal region will further strengthen thanks to the entry of former chairman of Commission for Backward Classes Jayaprakash Hegde, and former MLA Sukumar Shetty. 

He was responding to the queries of media persons after his arrival at the helipad in Udupi to take part in district-level convention of scheme beneficiaries.

“Hegde was in Congress and had served as MP. With Hegde returning back, the Congress will get more strength in the coastal districts,” he said.

On Hegde’s candidature for Udupi-Chikmagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, the CM said that the Congress high command will decide on the candidate.

On CAA

Siddaramaiah questioned why it took the Centre more than four years to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and termed the announcement as a political gimmick ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

 “Why were they silent all these years on implementing the CAA. With the fear of losing the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the BJP is engaged in all types of gimmick,” he said.

The Centre on Monday announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, a move that comes four years after the contentious law was passed. This paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Siddaramaiah also said his government has not yet discussed the issue of implementation of the CAA in the State, and the Cabinet will take a call on it. “We are yet to read it. We will take a decision after going through it and discuss it in the cabinet tomorrow," CM said.

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News Network
March 14,2024

busowner.jpg

Udupi: In a freak mishap, a 65-year-old man lost his life after being hit by his own bus which was being repaired at a garage at Athrady in Udupi district on Wednesday, March 13.

The deceased has been identified as Dayanand Shetty, the owner of a private bus.

It is learnt that the bus had been kept for repairs at the garage and Dayanand had gone there to inspect the repair works.

At this time, the mechanic started the engine and the bus moved ahead. Dayanand, who was standing in front of the bus, came under its wheels.

He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he died without responding to the treatment. A case is registered at jurisdictional Manipal police station.

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