71.1% polling recorded for four legislative council seats in Karnataka

Elections

This election is important for the BJP as it lacks a majority in the Upper House to pass crucial bills.

TNM Staff

An average polling of 71.1% was recorded during the election to four legislative council seats in Karnataka on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission had directed the returning officers to ensure that face masks and physical distancing should be maintained by the staff as well as the voters. According to the data shared by the CEO, polling percentage in the North East Teachers (Kalaburagi) was 73.32, Bangalore Teachers (Bangalore) -- 66 per cent, South East Graduate (Bangalore) -- 75 per cent and West Graduate (Belgaum) --70.11 per cent. The MLC polls are taking place following the retirement of R Chowda Reddy Thoopalli, S V Sankanur, Sharanappa Mattur and Puttanna respectively. Initially, there was a poor turnout with an average polling percentage of 8.5 till 10 am. However, it picked up later in the afternoon.   This election is crucial for the BJP as it lacks a majority in the upper house to pass crucial bills. The BJP government could not pass the farm bills and labour reforms amendment bills in the recently held legislature session as it could not get through the Upper House despite getting them passed in the assembly. The Council has a strength of 75 members, including Congress which has 28 members, BJP -- 27 members, Janata Dal (Secular) -- 14 members, as well as one independent, one chairman and four vacant seats. According to the CEO, polling began at 8 am and concluded at 5 pm. The counting of votes will be held on November 2. Forty candidates are vying in the elections. Among them are the four whose retirement on June 30 warranted the elections. There are 2.35 lakh voters in these four constituencies of which 71.10% had cast their votes. In the wake of elections, security was beefed up at the polling stations and prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC were imposed in and around the booths which will remain in effect till Thursday morning. Arrangements for hand sanitisers and thermal screening at all the booths were made. Medical teams were also deployed around the polling centres. With PTI inputs

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Mumbai Indians stay top after comfortable win over RCB

Sport

Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball while Suryakumar Yadav hit a fine 79 not out to guide Mumbai to a five-wicket win.

TNM Staff

Mumbai Indians secured top spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) table with a comfortable win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball while Suryakumar Yadav hit a fine 79 not out to guide Mumbai to a five-wicket win. Electing to bowl first, Mumbai restricted RCB to 164-6 despite a 45-ball 74 by youngster Devdutt Padikkal. Put in to bat, Padikkal, who plundered 12 fours and a six, added 71 runs for the opening wicket with Josh Philippe (33). However, the RCB then suffered a middle-order collapse as Mumbai roared back into the game with lead pacer Bumrah (3/14) doing the bulk of damage. Skipper Virat Kohli (9) perished early as RCB slipped to 95/2, but Padikkal continued his onslaught against Chahar, hammering a six and two fours, as RCB got 16 runs in the 15th over. Mumbai then took four wickets in quick succession, removing AB De Villiers (15), Shivam Dube (2), Padikkal and Chris Morris (4), as RCB slumped to 138/6. Gurkeerat Mann made a quick 14 but Mumbai, known for their effectiveness in the death, allowed RCB only 35 runs in the last five overs. Chasing 165, Mumbai lost wickets at fairly regular intervals but Suryakumar Yadav's half century meant that the chase was always in their control. Ishan Kishan chipped in with a 25 while Hardik Pandya scored 17 to help MI chase down the target in the final over of the innings. The win means Mumbai Indians are now clear at the top of the IPL table on 16 points while RCB is still second on 14 points. Mumbai's superior net run rate means the team is virtually guaranteed a playoff spot.    

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Mansoor Khan, kingpin of IMA ponzi scam granted bail by Karnataka HC

Crime

Mansoor has been in jail since July 2019.

TNM Staff

File image

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted bail to IMA Jewels Founder and Managing Director Mansoor Khan, the prime accused in the ponzi scheme. Mansoor has been in jail since July, 2019 when he was first arrested by officials of the Enforcement Directorate.  According to reports, his bail conditions include submitting his passport, and furnishing a bond of Rs 5 lakh. As widely reported, Mansoor is the kingpin of the scam that has affected 40,000 investors, many of whom are middle and lower-middle class Muslims who had invested in his “halal” scheme.  The Central Bureau of Investigation which later took over the case had recently chargesheeted two  Karnataka government officials in connection with the case. The officials concerned are then Assistant Commissioner of Bengaluru North Taluk LC Nagaraj and village accountant Manjunath N. Along with Khan, the directors and others who benefited from the scheme were also arrested. In all, around 25 people were arrested in connection with the scam. In its charge sheet filed in September before a special CBI court in Bengaluru, the CBI has alleged that Nagaraj received Rs 4.5 crore from Khan and other directors of IMA for giving a clean chit to IMA activities, while Manujnath as middleman had received Rs 10 lakh. In a supplementary charge sheet in the same case 28 accused including  senior IPS officers Hemant Nimbalkar and Ajay Hilori has been named. Other than the two IPS officers,  former deputy superintendent of police (CID) EB Sridhara, inspector and station house officer of the Commercial Street Police Station M Ramesh, and sub-inspector of the station P Gowrishankar has also been listed as accused. IANS had earlier reported how the CBI  probe showed that Hilori, directly supervising the work of Ramesh and Gowrishankar, had failed to register cases in spite of receiving written complaints from state government officials and social activists, they said.

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BJP leaders from north Karnataka hold 'secret' meeting in Hubballi hotel, raise eyebrows

Politics

Interestingly, other than the Katti brothers, none of CM Yediyurappa’s loyalists were a part of the meeting, leading to speculation that all is not well within BJP’s state unit.

Theja Ram

Representation photo

Karnataka Large-Scale Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel and several BJP MLAs from northern Karnataka districts met on Wednesday at a hotel in Hubballi to discuss several important issues. One of the important issues discussed was regarding the party’s candidate for the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency’s bye-elections. The seat became vacant after incumbent Suresh Angadi died of COVID-19 on September 23.  Besides Jagadish Shettar and Nalin Kumar Kateel, Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti, his brother Ramesh Katti, BJP MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath, BJP MP from Koppal, Sanganna Karadi, Arabhavi MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi and former Maski MLA Pratapgouda Patil met at the Denissons Hotel in Hubballi on Wednesday. Interestingly, other than the Katti brothers, none of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s loyalists were a part of the meeting, leading to speculation that all is not well within the BJP’s state unit. However, over the last one year, the Katti brothers have had a falling out with Yediyurappa after they were sidelined within the BJP in Karnataka.  One of the issues discussed was regarding the potential candidate for the Belagavi Parliamentary seat and sources said that Jagadish Shettar is hoping that his son, Pratap Shettar, would get the ticket to contest the bye-elections. However, Minister Jagadish, who spoke to the media after the meeting, said that the issue was not discussed.  “We discussed political issues in Belagavi and Maski. We promised Pratapgouda Patil that he would get the ticket to contest bye-elections. We also discussed the issues related to disgruntled leaders and workers. They have been instructed to cooperate and put the party’s reputation ahead of everything else. The issue regarding my son’s nomination was not discussed,” Jagadish Shettar said. BJP sources also said that Ramesh Katti, who was denied the ticket to contest from the Chikkodi Parliamentary segment, is also hoping for a ticket to contest the Belagavi MP bye-polls. Umesh Katti, one of Yediyurappa’s close aides, was kept out of the cabinet and his brother, the former Chikkodi MP, was denied a ticket for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Katti brothers have been disgruntled since the 2019 resort politics began.  The meeting was called especially to sort out issues of disgruntled leaders within the BJP, who expressed their concerns over being sidelined, sources said. A BJP leader present at the meeting told TNM that several of them had concerns regarding the tussle between the 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who defected to the BJP in 2019 and the party loyalists, who have been with the party for years.  “In Maski, where bye-polls have to be held for the vacant seat, Pratapgouda Patil is likely to get the ticket. We had to convince our cadre and also leaders there to cooperate. Many of them are unhappy about not getting the ticket even though they have worked for the party,” the source said.

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BJP leaders complain of BSY’s ‘exclusionary politics’, seek high command’s intervention

Politics

BJP sources said that if the party wins both the RR Nagar and Sira bye-polls, it would add to Yediyurappa’s strength and bargaining power.

Theja Ram

PTI/Representation Photo

Ahead of bye-elections in Karnataka, disgruntlement in BJP seems to be continuing with several leaders voicing their “disappointment” with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and his alleged “exclusionary politics”. With many of them feeling that the party loyalists are being not given important positions and the newcomers being awarded disproportionately, leaders are hoping for the intervention of the high command.  However, sources within the BJP say that the party has been scouting for a candidate, who could take over Yediyurappa’s position, but the search seems to be ending in a deadend as Yediyurappa’s power within the BJP and his hold on the party’s vote bank is strong. “We are in a stalemate. The high command wants to appoint someone, who would not become bigger than the party as they don’t want to face a similar situation where one leader becomes so powerful. On the other hand, the high command also realises that if it allows Yediyurappa to nominate his successor, he would choose his son, which the party is not willing to accept,” a BJP leader said. Just a few weeks ago, BJP MLA from Bijapur, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal openly declared that Yediyurappa’s time had come to an end and that the leaders in New Delhi would appoint a Chief Minister from north Karnataka. While this was openly denied by most state leaders, no clarification, however, came from Delhi.  The BJP came to power with the support of the 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs, who defected. But BJP leaders, who have stuck around the party for years on end, were sidelined, with Congress and JD(S) defectors being given posts that were promised to them. While those who defected were made ministers, those claiming to be party loyalists, were sidelined.  On Monday, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who is also said to be a contender for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka, dismissed the allegations of mid-term elections, stating that the party was not looking at a change of guard.  In 2011, when Yediyurappa was unhappy with the party, he gathered his supporters within the party and had them sent to resorts. Subsequently, Jagadish Shettar was appointed the Chief Minister, who was in power between 2012 and 2013. Yediyurappa then quit the party and gathered his loyalists to form the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP). In 2013, the votes were split between BJP and KJP in 2013 and the BJP, which had won 110 seats in the 2008 elections, ended up winning only 40 seats, while the Congress, which had won 80 seats in the previous elections won 122 seats.  Knowing his hold within the party and the state, the high command is mulling over its next move carefully, not wanting to damage the party’s vote bank in the only state in the south where they have been in power. BJP sources said that if the party wins both the RR Nagar and Sira bye-polls, it would add to Yediyurappa’s strength. And with that, his bargaining power too will increase to have someone of his choice, his son Vijayendra in all likelihood, to be his successor.

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Wearing masks inside cars now mandatory in Bengaluru, even if you're driving alone

Coronavirus

The new rules by the BBMP come two months after the Union Health Ministry announced that it was not necessary to wear masks while driving alone in a car.

TNM Staff

Pixcy representation photo

Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday night issued new guidelines related to wearing masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Wednesday, it will be mandatory for all those who are driving cars, even if they are alone and have the windows closed, to wear masks. In September this year, the Union Health Ministry announced that it was not necessary to wear masks while driving alone in a car. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad issued the order on Tuesday. According to it, irrespective of whether a person is alone in a car, or has the windows opened or closed, they must wear a face mask. The same applies to two-wheeler riders and also pillion riders. In its order, the civic body states that the positivity rate for coronavirus infections in Bengaluru has come down to 9% in October, compared to 12.79% in September. The civic body said that in order to maintain the trend and keep the number of COVID-19 cases low in the city, there was a need to strictly enforce COVID-19 norms like wearing masks and maintaining physical distance.  In addition to marshals and traffic police personnel who are enforcing COVID-19 guidelines, the BBMP has also formed ward-level committees to monitor and enforce these norms. The ward committees will have a BBMP assistant engineer, a health inspector, a ward marshal and a police officer appointed by the Police Commissioner. These ward committees will be monitored by Divisional Committees. There will be 198 ward committees, 27 divisional committees and eight zonal committees that will monitor the divisional ones.  A fine of Rs 250 will be imposed for violating norms like not wearing masks or failing to maintain physical distance. 

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NIA searches house of Bengaluru researcher, accuses NGOs of 'secessionist' activity

Controversy

The researcher was associated with civil society organisations which criticised the union government's abrogation of Article 370.

TNM Staff

Representational image/PTI

The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday carried out a search and seizure operation in Bengaluru at the residence of an independent researcher. According to sources, Swati Seshadri's residence was searched and her laptop, phone was seized by the NIA officers. The search conducted on Wednesday were done simultaneously with raids in 10 locations of Jammu and Kashmir. While nine of them were in Srinagar, one was in Bandipora.  Swati is associated with many civil society organisations in Bengaluru and across the country. NIA said the raids were in connection with a case registered against “certain NGOs and Trusts collecting funds domestically and abroad through so-called donations and business contributions etc. and are then utilizing these funds for secessionist and terrorist activities in J&K”. The raids in Kashmir included multiple places in Srinagar city of Jammu and Kashmir, including the office of a prominent English daily newspaper as part of its ongoing investigation into the terror funding case. NIA said a case was registered on October 8 under sections 120B (party to criminal conspiracy), 124 A (sedition) IPC (Indian Penal Code) and sections 17, 18, 22A, 22C, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act In a statement the NIA said those whose premises have been searched “include the residence and office of Khurram Parvez (coordinator of J&K Coalition of Civil Society), his associates —- Parvez Ahmad Bukhari, Parvez Ahmad Matta and Bengaluru-based associate—  Swati Sheshadri; Ms. Parveena Ahanger, Chairperson of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons ( APDPK) and offices of NGO Athrout and GK Trust.” The raid in Bengaluru came with already one team of the country’s premiere probe agency camping in the city since it took charge of two cases in connection with the August 11 east Bengaluru riots.

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