Cong high-command to decide MLC candidates: D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Congress Karnataka unit chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said the party high command will decide the candidates for the MLC election amid growing clamor in the party to select low profile grassroots level workers just as BJP chose its two Rajya Sabha members.
The elections to the seven MLC seats are due on June 29 and the last date for filing nominations is June 18.
These seven members will be elected by the MLAs.
Of the seven seats, the BJP is likely to win four seats, the Congress two and the JD(S) one seat given their strength in the assembly.
The ruling BJP has 116 members excluding Speaker, Congress 68, and the JD(S) 34 members in the assembly.
"We have to inform the high command about the aspirants and send all the applications.
There are over 200 applications for the two seats," Shivakumar told reporters after meeting the Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah regarding the selection of candidates to contest the MLC election.
"We will not take away their right (to contest election)," he added.
There is hectic lobbying going on in Congress.
More than 200 people have applied for the two seats of which at least 20 are the top contenders, party insiders told PTI.
Many young Congress workers are demanding that they are sent to the legislative council just as BJP sent dark horses Eranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti to the Rajya Sabha springing a surprise.
The election is necessitated as the term of seven MLCs- Naseer Ahmed, Jayamma, M C Venugopal, N S Bose Raju, H M Revanna (all Congress), T A Sharavana (JDS) and independent D U Mallikarjuna- will end on June 30.
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Attacks on Christians contradict PM's message of harmony, visit to church: Gehlot
Jaipur (PTI): Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over the reported attacks and disruptions in prayer gatherings of the Christian community in different parts of the country, saying such incidents were "worrying and condemnable".
In a post on X, Gehlot said that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visiting a church and giving a message of peace and harmony, news of attacks on members of the Christian community from various regions reflected a serious contradiction.
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"Symbolic gestures would not be enough, and strict legal action was required against those spreading hatred," the senior Congress leader said.
He added that Indian culture has always upheld the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", where every citizen has full freedom to practise their faith.
Gehlot urged the Centre and state governments to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no citizen is forced to celebrate their festival under fear.
