Cong-JDS govt will not collapse after LS polls: Deputy CM Parameshwar
Bengaluru, May 16: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar Thursday asserted that the Congress-JDS coalition government would not collapse even as state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa claimed his party's tally would increase in the assembly after by-polls and Lok Sabha election results.
"Kumaraswamy is the Chief Minister, on his behalf as Deputy Chief Minister in this government I'm making this statement that the government will not collapse for any reason" Parameshwar said.
Speaking to reports in Kalaburagi, he said, "Not on May 23, 24 or 25.... we will run the government for the remaining four years. As promised to the people of the state while taking oath, we will give a good and pro people government in the state."
"So government won't fall, even if Yeddyurappa makes 'japa' (chanting about government collapse) another hundred times," he added.
Meanwhile, revealing the number game that will emerge in the assembly after bypoll and Lok Sabha election results, Yeddyurappa said, there would be "political alterations" in the state after that.
"To bring a change in the state we have asked people to support both our candidates (in Chincholi and Kundgol) and strengthen BJP. By winning bypoll to both the seats our strength will raise from 104 to 106," Yeddyurappa told reporters in Hubballi.
Also, claiming the support of three independent and small party MLAs, which will take the BJP's tally to 109, he said, "any kind of political alterations may happen after that. So we have asked for cooperation and I'm confident that people will definitely support us."
The Karnataka assembly has 224 members, in which BJP has 104 MLAs, Congress-77, JD(S)-37, BSP (1), independent (1) (both currently supporting the ruling alliance), one KPJP, and one Speaker.
Two seats, Chincholi and Kundgol are vacant, for which bypolls would be held on May 19.
Recently, Yeddyurappa had claimed that there was an "atmosphere" for the BJP to form government in the state.
He had also said the longevity of the coalition government would depend on the stand taken by about 20 "disgruntled" Congress legislators after the Lok Sabha election results.
There are already talks within political circles that any adverse results for the coalition in the Lok Sabha polls, which they fought in alliance, would have its implications for the government.
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Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.
Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”
“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.
Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.
“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.
