Indian Overseas Congress Bahrain extends condolences on the demise of the Prime Minister of Bahrain
Manama: As the Kingdom of Bahrain mourns the death of its long-serving Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Indian Overseas Congress expressed its condolences to the royal family and the people of Bahrain on the passing away of the prime minister.
“IOC Executive Team headed by Mohammed Mansoor, President of IOC extended sincere condolences to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, may God preserve and protect him, the beloved King of the Kingdom of Bahrain and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, may God protect him, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister and His Highness Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and to the Honourable Royal family, and the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the sad demise of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, may almighty God have mercy on him.
“Since morning Mr. Mohammed Mansoor was approached from several leaders of the INC Office, headed by Mr. Rahul Gandhi and was first to tweet and expressed his grief and passed his deepest condolences to HM King, the Royal family and the people of Bahrain” a press statement from the organization stated.
IOC Chairman, Mr. Sam Pitroda, expressed his sorrow and condolences to HM King, and the family.
Also recalled their last visit as State guest, where they had the opportunity to discuss bilateral ties and mutual interest which would benefit both the countries in the field of sports, arts, and culture.
“The relations between the two countries are very cordial in terms of policies, economic and cultural exchanges. Bahrain hosts about more than 350,000 Indian expatriates and the close bond established since inception is treasured and this legacy has been continuing” the statement further added.
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Voting underway in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Voting was underway on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies in Karnataka.
Polling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm.
A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase covering most of the southern and coastal districts, where more than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations.
The Congress and BJP are locking horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a year.
This election is witnessing a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties.
The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The second phase of polling in the remaining 14 seats is on May seven.
In the first phase, while the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in (NDA) in September last year, in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.
Besides the three, the segments where elections are being held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur.
According to Election Commission, 1.4 lakh polling officials are on duty for the first phase.
Besides them, 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, and 65 companies of Central Paramilitary Force and State Armed Police force of other States have been deployed for security.
All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency are being webcast.
"This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double the Central paramilitary force for Bangalore Rural constituency. Seven companies of Central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22," Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena has said.
In fact, out of the total 30,602 polling stations in the first phase, 19,701 are webcast, and 1,370 covered via CCTVs, he had added.
Chikkaballapur has a maximum number of 29 candidates, followed by 24 in Bangalore Central, and Dakshina Kannada has the least number at nine.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy from Mandya, his brother-in-law and noted cardiologist C N Manjunath from Bangalore Rural on a BJP ticket against Deputy CM D K Shivakumar's brother and MP D K Suresh of Congress, and erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore, from the BJP, are among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase.
Also in the contest are BJP MP Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South pitted against Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy of Congress, and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on BJP ticket from Bangalore North against former Indian Institute of Management Bangalore professor M V Rajeev Gowda of Congress.
