BJP denies ticket to Union Minister Narayanaswamy from Chitradurga LS seat
Bengaluru, Mar 27: BJP on Wednesday announced senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Govind M Karjol as its candidate from Chitradurga Lok Sabha seat, replacing incumbent MP and Union Minister A Narayanaswamy.
According to party sources, Narayanaswamy, who is Union Minister of State for Social Welfare and Empowerment, was "facing anti-incumbency," and hence he was denied ticket. Narayanaswamy, who does not hail from Chitradurga, had earlier been an MLA from Anekal near Bengaluru.
With this, the BJP has announced candidates for all 25 seats it will be contesting in the state, which has a total of 28 constituencies. In the remaining three seats -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar -- BJP's NDA partner JD(S) will be contesting.
Karjol, who hails from Vijayapura district, had been a five-term member of Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Mudhol constituency in Bagalkote district.
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The 73-year-old had served as Minister holding various portfolios in BJP governments, also party's state Vice-President, and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. He was earlier with Janata Dal.
Karjol was defeated in the 2023 Assembly polls from Mudhol by Congress' R B Timmapur, who is now a Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Congress has fielded B N Chandrappa, who had lost to Narayanaswamy in 2019. Chandrappa had won the Lok Sabha polls from Chitradurga in 2014.
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4 militants arrested in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Four militants belonging to two banned outfits have been arrested in Manipur for possession of firearms and involvement in extortion, a police statement said on Saturday.
Three militants belonging to the Kangleipak Communist Party (Peoples' War Group) outfit were arrested on Thursday for possessing firearms and extorting people, it said.
They have been identified as Chongtham Shyamchandra Singh (23), hailing from Imphal West district, and Maibam Suraj Khan (32) and Boghimayum Sahid Khan (30), who hail from Imphal East district.
Three 5.56 mm INSAS live cartridges, an empty case of .32 ammunition and three mobile phones were seized from their possession.
In another incident, a militant belonging to the banned United National Liberation Front (Ningon Macha group) was arrested on Thursday for illegal possession of firearms.
The arrested militant was identified as Sangomshumpham Warish (25), who hails from Lilong Haorou in Thoubal district. A .32 pistol and ammunition were seized from his possession, it added.
Meanwhile, security forces seized arms and ammunition during an area domination exercise in S Mongpi ridge in Kangpokpi district on Thursday.
A .303 rifle, a 9mm pistol, two SBBL guns, a 5.56mm INSAS LMG magazine, two hand grenades, two detonators, 16 cartridges and three tear smoke grenades were seized, it added.
