Mangaluru: The BJP High Command on Thursday announced its list of candidates for the 21 constituencies of the state, while it has not named candidates who will contest from seven other constituencies.

Amidst calls of oppositions from within the party against Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, the BJP high command persisted with the sitting MP and handed him the party ticket for the third consecutive LS elections.

He was earlier given ticket in 2009 and 2014 by the party high command, wherein he won on both the occasions defeating Congress’ Janardhan Poojary each time.

This time around Sangh Parivar leader Satyajit Suratkal had demanded ticket for him and had gathered support for himself within the party. But the oarty high command persisted with the two-time MP and has banked upon him to win the constituency for the party.

In 2009, Kateel won the election against Congress candidate Janardhan Poojary by over 40,000 votes, while in 2014 he defeated Poojary by 1.43 lakh votes.

There's always been a debate how Nalin Kumar has failed to develop the constituency and in such a scenario it will be interesting to see who the Congress party will select to contest against the two times MP.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.