Cong MLC wants to contest from Bengaluru North, a seat Deve Gowda is reportedly eyeing
Bengaluru, Jan 2: Amid reports that JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda might contest the Lok Sabha polls from Bangalore North, senior Congress leader and MLC H M Revanna Wednesday expressed his keenness to contest from the seat.
"In Hebbal (assembly segment that comes under Bangalore north) also I have my (base). For 12 years I Have worked as Bengaluru city president and prepared several people (for the party). I'm a known face in this part,"Revanna said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he was also an aspirant and he was asking the party for a ticket.
"Whatever the party decides, I will abide by it, but I'm also an aspirant," he said.
Revanna, who had lost from Channapatna, also pointed out that during the recent Assembly elections he wasn't given a ticket from either Magadi or Hebbal and his term as MLC was also coming to an end.
Considered a close confidante of Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he was also an aspirant for the Minister's post in the coalition cabinet.
According to reports, during the recent party meeting, a section of leaders from Bengaluru proposed the idea of Gowda contesting from Bangalore North as it would help the ruling coalition to gain a hold in the city.
Vokkaligas, the community to which Gowda belongs, have a considerable presence in the constituency, along with minorities.
BJP currently has a hold over the three Lok Sabha constituencies Bangalore- North, South and Central.
Union Minister Sadananda Gowda is the sitting Member Of Parliament from Bangalore North.
There is no clarity on whether Sadananda Gowda will contest from the constituency, with reports suggesting that he may go back to Udupi Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency.
Stating that JD(S) was looking for 12 out of 28 seats in the state to contest during the Lok Sabha polls,Gowda On Saturday had given a clear indication about his grandson Prajwal Revanna contesting the polls from Hassan, the JD(S) bastion that he has been representing.
Asked about reports that he was considering contesting the Lok Sabha polls,Gowda, citing health reasons and his age, said he has "not decided yet."
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
