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T he ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) looks to be poised for a comfortable win in a majority of the 15 state Assembly constituencies wherein bye-polls are scheduled on coming Thursday 05 December. However, Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru city and Maski constituency in Raichuru district are not included in this phase of bye-polls as the defeated BJP candidates have contested the victory of the then rival Congress candidates in both these constituencies during the May 2018 general elections. A lot of dust has been created among the BJP, INC and JD-S leaders who have been overbusy these days by washing linen in public during the electioneering campaign which is getting over in the next couple of days. Although the polling process is slated to be over on 05 December, the results will be known only on next Monday, 09 December when the Electronic Voting Machines(EVM's) will be unlocked for counting of votes. These bye-elections made inevitable due to the resignations of 14...

The BS Yeddyurappa led Bharatiya Janata Party state government won the vote of confidence motion by a voice vote this morning and later also sought approval for the finance bills. However, the smooth proceedings also became an eyewitness to the exit of KR Rameshkumar from the position of Assembly Speaker. Today, the much-awaited vote of confidence motion in the BJP government was approved without any hassles. Thanks to the 105 members strength of the ruling party and the opposition Indian National Congress(INC) and Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) parties' combined strength of 99 apart from the Speaker, there was no doubt about the saffron party making it through. One Independent MLA who resigned as a minister is also supporting the BJP now. In fact, Karnataka Assembly has a total strength of 224 elected members while one person is nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. But the nominated member has no rights to vote during the crucial vote of confidence. As 14 Congress and three JD...

KR Rameshkumar, Speaker of the state Assembly today disqualified 11 Indian National Congress(INC) and Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) members of the state Assembly with immediate effect while the disqualified legislators have described the ruling as lopsided and will contest the same in the court. The disqualified legislators are as follows: Indian National Congress(INC) 1.Prathapgouda Patil(Maski constituency in Raichur district) 2.BC Patil(Hirekerur in Haveri district) 3.Shivaram Hebbar(Yellapura in North Canara district) 4.ST Somasekhar(Yeshavantapura in Bengaluru Urban district) 5.Bhairathi A Basavaraj(KR Puram In Bengaluru Urban district) 6.Anandsingh(Vijayanagar in Ballari district) 7.R Roshan Baig(Shivajinagar in Bengaluru Urban district) 8.Muniratna(Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru Urban district) 9.Dr K Sudhakarreddy(Chikkaballapur in Chikkaballapur district) 10.MTB Nagaraj(Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district) 11.Shrimanth Balasaheb Patil(Kagwad in Belagavi district). Janata Dal-...

B haratiya Janata Party(BJP) has at last succeeded in its seventh attempt, thanks to ‘Operation Lotus’, to dislodge the 14 months old HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) and Indian National Congress(INC) coalition parties state government. Perhaps the big difference this final time was that the mission was kept as a closely guarded secret, unlike the previous six times when all the BJP leaders, top and sundry kept on announcing day in and day out that the JDS-INC government is going to fall! BS Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third time soon after the May 2018 Assembly elections although the party had won only in 104 seats and was far away from the magical 113 number to prove the majority. ImageSource: patrika.com To suit the challenge before the party, Governor Vajubhai Vala gave a long rope of two weeks period to prove the majority. Irked by this prolonged time frame, both the Congress and JDS approached the Supreme Court.Probably for the firs...

ImageSource: kannada.news18.com T he 14 months old HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) and Indian National Congress(INC) coalition government, as expected lost its vote of confidence motion on the floor of the house this evening, paving way for a Bharatiya Janata Party-led new government. The vote of confidence motion moved by HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister received 99 votes while 105 votes were polled against the same. 20 MLAs' belonging to the ruling JDS-INC combine, including stayed away from the proceedings while KR Rameshkumar, speaker opted not to vote. 103 is the magical number required in the present circumstances and the present alliance struggled to muster a strength of only 99. It may be recollected here that although the Monsoon session of the state Assembly commenced from 12 July, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party insisted on a floor test on the pretext that the ruling combine had lost the majority.Initially, HD Kumaraswamy had claimed of se...

T he state Assembly was today adjourned amidst noisy scenes, angry exchanges between the ruling and opposition party members culminating into a Dharana by the ruling side thus paving way for a night-long protest by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in the house. In the process, the purpose for which the lower house had reassembled, a discussion and polling on the crucial vote of confidence motion became a casualty as the proposed debate never got initiated. Thanks to HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and Congress legislature party leader and their clever ploy and strategy. The disruption of the proceedings, in spite of the Speaker allowing the leader of the house to move the motion on a vote of confidence, got derailed in such a way that the discussion never took off! The lower house was scheduled to meet today with the sole intention of taking up the vote of confidence in the Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S)-Indian National Congress(INC) coalition gov...

 T oday's interim judgement of the three members divisional bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, directing the Karnataka Assembly Speaker to act upon the resignation letters submitted by the 15 dissident Janata Dal-Secular and Indian National Congress(INC) MLAs' within a timeframe has come out as a big blow to the coalition government while providing relief to the disgruntled legislators. The apex court has also ruled out that the resignations of the 15 MLAs' have to be taken into cognisance by the speaker in accordance with the provisions of section 190 of the constitution but however, has refused to insist on a specific timeframe. There were celebration moods and a big sigh of relief amidst the dissident legislators' presently confining themselves within the Mumbai luxury hotel. A video has been released on behalf of all the 15 dissident MLAs', welcoming the apex court's judgement.At the same time, they have also told in clear terms that none of them...

T hanks to the present power politics and crisis prevailing in the state, the omnipotent and all-pervasive almighty appears to be under duress and undue pressure from all those crossing swords only to somehow manage to grab power, hook or crook! The outcome of the general elections of May 2018 to the state Assembly threw a fractured verdict with no clear cut majority to either of the three major players, Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Indian National Congress(INC) and the Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S).But prior to these public polls and also during them and much before the declaration of results, many ardent political devotees literally started making a bee-line to all possible pilgrimage centres within the state and also in the neighbouring ones.A new word 'temple-run' was also coined by the regional broadcast media to do justice to the newfound activity in an unheard manner. HD Devegowda, the former prime minister and his family members performed 'Atirudra Mahayaaga' ...

T he floor test to decide fate of the HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular and Indian National Congress(INC) alliance government is now scheduled on coming Thursday, 18 July and all the stakeholders, including the JDS-INC and Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) have consented to the Assembly Speaker's suggestion in this connection. ImageSource: timesofindia.indiatimes.com In fact, the date was ultimately resolved by the concerned parties after a prolonged round of discussions by the speaker KR Rameshkumar. As per the earlier schedule, the lower house was supposed to meet for the day at 12.30 pm. but it took it almost took two hours for it to assemble. BS Yeddyurappa, leader of opposition in the Assembly was initially insisting to consider his no-confidence motion for discussion today itself. However, HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister prevailed upon the former to agree for Thursday as the petitions of 15 MLAs' is scheduled to come for hearing tomorrow.After much dilly-dallying b...

 13 July being a second Saturday was a state government holiday across the state and all government offices and establishments remained closed. But for the lawmakers, it continued to remain a hectic day as the ruling Janata Dal-Secular(JD-S) and Indian National Congress(INC) evinced enough enthusiasm of winning the vote of confidence while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a threat of 'Reverse Operation'. MTB Nagaraj, Hoskote Congress MLA who had resigned to his membership of the state legislature just a couple of days back along with Dr K Sudhakar, Chikkaballapur Congress MLA did a U-turn today by resolving to withdraw his resignation. This change of heart in him was preceded by more than six hours of parleys he had with DK Shivakumar, Major Irrigation Minister and Dr G Parameshwar, Deputy Chief Minister and Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and leader of the Congress legislature party.He was also persuaded by HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister over the phone an...

ImageSource:hindustantimes.com KR Rameshkumar, Speaker of the state Assembly today adhered to the directions of the Supreme Court by receiving the resignations of the dissident MLAs' belonging to both, Indian National Congress(INC) and Janata Dal-Secular(JDS) ruling parties. However he parried queries over any time frame for either accepting or rejecting the same thus giving a go ahead to the prevailing piquant political situation. Now it looks that the sword of acting against all the disgruntled legislators are more bright with the weapon like disqualification as all the rebel legislators have returned back to Mumbai while the Monsoon session is set to begin from tomorrow. The finance bill is being presented tomorrow on the very maiden day of the session and whips have been issued by both the ruling parties to the members to be present in the house without fail and failure to do so is enough to act to disqualify such erring members.On the other hand all the disgruntled Me...

T he state is reeling under severe drought conditions with people suffering from drinking water and scarcity of fodder but the people whom they elected as their representatives have no time to listen to their woes as they are overbusy in their political games! ImageSource: justdial.com This is not for the first time that the state is witnessing such a wreckless situation as it was also the same pathetic plight during October 2009 when a Bharatiya Janata Party government was in office. Then BS Yeddyurappa was the chief minister and Gali Janardhan Reddy, Tourism minister in his cabinet.An ordinary head constable's son turned mining baron, G Janardhan Reddy had literally taken the BS Yeddyurappa led BJP government for a toss as he chose to fly to Hyderabad and Goa along with more than 40 ruling party MLAs' to rebel against the 'dictatorial attitude' of the chief minister. Then most regions of the North Karnataka were marooned due to heavy rains and rapid floods ther...

image source: indiatoday.in T he tussle for retaining and assuming political power in the state of Karnataka has stooped to a new low unheard of so far with the political morale getting stuck up on the street drain.Today appeared to be a crucial day in terms of hectic turnout of political developments, both to the ruling Janata Dal-Secular-Indian National Congress combine and Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition party. DK Shivakumar, former state Major Irrigation Minister and Man Friday of the coalition JDS-INC parties suffered a setback as he was prevented entry to the luxury hotel where some Congress and JDS legislators are holed up.In fact he was on a mission to persuade the former legislator colleagues to win them back to the party fold. He was denied entry by the policemen in spite of having booked a room in the same hotel.He was also informed by the police on duty that his booking has been cancelled. A reluctant Shivakumar, refused to budge and continued to stay ...

 R Shankar and H Nagesh , both Independent members of state Legislative Assembly were today inducted into the state ministry as cabinet ministers in the HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JDS)-Indian National Congress(INC) alliance government. By this move, the leaders of the coalition parties have been successful in ensuring both the Independent legislators from crossing over to the 105 members strong main opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party. It's no public secret that the saffron party leaders of the state have stumbled a handful of times in trying to install a government of their own.The BJP needs at least 113 members in a house of 224 to form a government but lady luck has been shying ever since the new Assembly was constituted after the May 2018 general elections. R Shankar in fact won on a Karnataka Prajakeeya Janata Party(KPJP) ticket from Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district.The party launched by Upendra, the maverick Kannada actor and film maker drew a bl...

  T he Bharatiya Janata Party has written new history in Karnataka , considered as the Gateway to South India by snatching 25 out of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies and managing to win from four seats in Telangana. However it has failed to register any win in either of the remaining South Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Probably the biggest surprise for the saffron party today turned out to be Karnataka which bagged literally the whole state barring a mere two constituencies, one each to the Congress and JDS. The third seat was won by an Independent but supported by the BJP.Another noteworthy feature of today's results happened to be the total rout of veteran politicians and emergence of novices transforming out as new heroes on the political arena. HD Devegowda, former prime minister and Janata Dal Secular party supremo, Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress party group in the Lok Sabha, M Veerappa Moily, former chief minister and central minister, KH...

 T he HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal-Secular(JDS) and Indian National Congress(INC) supported coalition state government will be completing one year in office tomorrow, but whether the power partners will celebrate the same or end up licking their wounds depends upon the Lok Sabha poll results tomorrow. Although a BS Yeddyurappa led Bharatiya Janata Party government came into being soon after the May 2018 Assembly elections the party was deprived with the required numerical strength of 113 for a slender majority in a house of 224 members.Then the saffron party could only boast of 104 members of its own while the Indian National Congress(INC) had a representation of 80 and the Janata Dal-Secular(JDS) 38. Two Independents after dilly-dallying switched over to the JDS-INC combine. As expected BS Yeddyurappa after failing to realise the required numbers had to bow down and announced his resignation on the floor of the house without pressing his motion for proving the majority of his ...

T he HD Kumaraswamy led Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition government which had been literally walking on a tight rope ever since it came to power in May 2018 now appears to be on the death bed, thanks to the exit polls indicating a National Democratic Alliance(NDA) government romping back at the Center.In fact the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in the state according to the pollsters is no good news either to the sworn enemies turned partners for power. It has been projected that the Bharatiya Janata Party, currently the main opposition party is likely to emerge victorious in about 16-23 constituencies out of the total number of 28 seats. Indian National Congress(INC) is being told to win in 6-8 and the Janata Dal Secular(JDS) in 1-2 seats, and such survey results much before the formal process of counting of votes has rattled both the ruling party leaders. HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister who was scheduled to be in New Delhi to be part of the opposition protest has suddenly ca...

B elagavi, hitherto known as Belgaum district bordering Maharashtra on one side and Goa on the other is an interesting, lively and a piquant portion of land well known and notoriously known for many a reason continues to reel under severe threat if at all you wish to ponder about democracy and civilian rights.The district is again back in headlines following the renewal of Ramesh Jharkiholi , former district minister and Gokak Congress MLA's threat to bid adieu to the Congress party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. This is not for the first time that the disgruntled Congress legislator is making his public stance clear for he had done so during the fag end of the previous year as well. In fact, he was camping at a Mumbai private five-star hotel for weeks together along with a handful of Congress MLAs' who was then seriously pondering over the issue of crossing over to the saffron party under the 'Operation Lotus' strategy of the BJP.However, the switching over did...

F ourteen Lok Sabha constituencies in the Northern region of the state of Karnataka are set to go in for polling tomorrow in the second and final round of polls.Polling to the remaining 14 constituencies in Southern region got over on Thursday 18 April. Image source: jagran.com The 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state going to the polls are as follows Chikkodi,Belagavi,Bagalkote,Vijayapura,Kalaburagi(Gulburga),Bidar,Raichuru,Ballari,Koppal,Haveri,Dharwad,Uttara Kannada,Davanagere and Shivamogga .By and large the whole of North Karnataka region but for a few exceptions has been considered as a bastion of the saffron party since a few decades and the results of subsequent elections have only added strength to such a notion. The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) had won 11 seats in the May 2014 Parliamentary elections bagging 49.45 percentage of the total votes polled while the Indian National Congress(INC) had registered a win in three constituencies.During the previous general...

F ourteen Lok Sabha constituencies in the old Mysuru(South Karnataka) region are going to the polls tomorrow i.e, Thursday, 18 April in the first round of general elections while polling is scheduled on 23 April for the remaining 14 constituencies spread over Central and North Karnataka areas comprising of erstwhile Mumbai and Hyderabad province territories. Image source : newsable.asianetnews.com The constituencies going to polls tomorrow are as follows: Chamarajanagar, Mysuru-Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi-Chikkmagaluru, Hassan, Mandya, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru South, Bengaluru Central, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Chitradurga . Southern Karnataka has been known for fierce battle between the Indian National Congress(INC) and the Janata Party/Dal hitherto party of the Old Congress or Congress(Organization) since early eighties.Although a Congress led Janata Dal Secular(JDS) party supported state government came into being during 2004 for the first ti...