A day ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls for four seats from Karnataka, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday wrote an open letter to Janata Dal-Secular MLAs requesting them to cast their 'conscience vote' in favour of his party's second candidate Mansoor Ali Khan, stating that his win will be a victory of 'secular ideology' followed by both parties.
Following the alleged desecration of the Maratha king's statue, miscreants in Belagavi shouted slogans and pelted government vehicles with stones and freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna's statue was subsequently vandalised.
The Karnataka government would do everything within its means to help the Information Technology industry "grow, develop and flourish", Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said
The Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition ministry headed by H D Kumaraswamy in Karnataka was expanded Friday with the induction of 20 ministers.
The joint session of the assembly will start from Februay 24.
He had the support of 138 legislators in the 224-member House.
The decision on alliance with BJP in the polls will be taken by JD-S President Deve Gowda.
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has indicated that he will hold the finance portfolio.
Deve Gowda has said all action will be taken against Kumaraswamy and other rebels.
JD(S)-BJP not to go for full-fledged ministry on Feb 3
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Executive of JD(S) held at the residence of former prime minister and party chief H D Deve Gowda in New Delhi on Monday.
The meeting did not make much headway towards finding a solution to the Karnataka crisis.
Revanna has decided to stand by Gowda in the hour of crisis.
Readers are unanimous about the fact that the Congress government has done nothing worthwhile in the 19 months that it has been in power.
Asked about the letter submitted by Kumaraswamy about withdrawal of support to the government, Singh said JD-S chief H D Deve Gowda had submitted a letter requesting the governor not to take cognisance of Kumaraswamy's letter.
With only 65 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, do you think the Congress has suffered a big blow from Kumaraswamy's move?
No chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Kumaraswamy's Janata Dal-Secular could manage to complete the full term in Karnataka.
BJP leaders said they were mulling moving the Supreme Court in the light of Thursday's developments.
I will continue to remain in the party and serve as MLA, he said in Bengaluru.
The apex court had on July 12 restrained Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar from taking any decision till July 16 on the resignation and disqualification of 10 rebel MLAs of the ruling Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition.
The MLAs in the letter said they feel threatened, and requested the police to stop any Congress leader from meeting them.
These MLAs are Anand Singh, K Sudhakar, N Nagaraj, Munirathna and Roshan Baig.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken a jibe at Kumaraswamy over his Singapore visit to celebrate the new year, at a time when most parts of the state are reeling under drought.
The development has come in the backdrop of Yediyurappa openly seeking JD-S support.
The committee has been tasked to come up with policy measures to boost agriculture exports, raise growth in food processing, attract investments in modern market infrastructure, value chains and logistics.
He, however, reiterated his allegation that the BJP was trying to lure MLAs of the ruling combine.
This was the second time D K Shivakumar foiled Amit A Shah's plans.
The state Congress has written to Sitharaman, asking her to protect the interests of the state by retaining the exhibition in Bengaluru as she was a Rajya Sabha member from the state.
Instructions would also be given to the legislators on how they should behave during the swearing-in ceremony, he added.
The Janata Dal (Secular) has offered to join the National Democratic Alliance, provided the BJP allows H D Kumaraswamy continue as Karnataka chief minister for the next 20 months.
'There is no problem to the government. It will complete (its tenure). You get tensed due to reports in media. It is not like that. '
There seems to be a wave of uncertainity in the state of Karnataka on whether JD-S will hand over power to its coalition partner, the BJP on October 3.
Kumaraswamy's meeting with the Congress chief comes in the backdrop of voices of dissent gaining ground in the ruling coalition in the southern state after two Congress MLAs met former chief minister S M Krishna at his Bengaluru residence on Sunday.
There are lessons for the Congress to learn from the Karnataka elections of how burying the hatchet among top leaders and not washing dirty linen in public can help, says Ramesh Menon.
'There cannot be an alliance with Congress that does not honour the coalition dharma'
He expressed hope there would be smooth sharing of Cauvery river water with Tamil Nadu in view of prospects of a good monsoon.
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