Feb 12: 3,202 COVID-19 cases, 38 deaths in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Feb 12: The declining trend in daily COVID-19 infections continued in Karnataka on Saturday with the state logging 3,202 new cases and 38 fatalities taking the aggregate and toll to 39,24,297 and 39,613 respectively, the state health department said.
In its COVID-19 bulletin, the department said 8,988 people were discharged, taking the total number of recoveries to 38,45,903. Active cases stood at 38,747.
Bengaluru urban district reported 1,293 infections and 10 deaths.
Other districts too logged fresh cases including 250 in Belagavi, 197 in Mysuru, 155 in Shivamogga, 142 in Tumakuru and 126 in Ballari.
There were deaths reported in 19 districts, including four in Dakshina Kannada, three in Haveri and two each in Ballari, Bidar, Dharwad, Mysuru, Raichur and Tumakuru.
There were zero deaths in 12 districts.
The positivity rate for the day was 2.95 per cent and the case fatality rate was 1.18 per cent.
As many as 1,08,534 tests were conducted including 81,798 RT-PCR tests taking the total tests to 6.33 crore so far.
There were 1,12,406 inoculations done taking the total vaccinations so far to 9.82 crore, the department added.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
