"Like-minded" Karnataka Cong MLAs to meet after May 19 assembly bypolls
Bengaluru, May 13: Amid coalition worries, a meeting of "like-minded" Congress MLAs will take place after bypolls to Kundgol and Chincholi assembly constituencies on May 19, Congress legislator S T Somashekar, who is the convener of the meeting, said Monday.
"MLAs are busy with Chincholi and Kundgol bypolls. I will also be there from Wednesday morning till May 17 or18.. there was Bengaluru dairy election as well.
So because of elections I could not speak to anyone, will speak to about 10 to 12 (legislators) and fix the date," Somashekar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "meeting will happen, there is no problem with it, date has to finalised, May 21 is the plan, but have not spoken to everyone as all are busy with election. Will speak to them on May 17 or 18 and decide."
Earlier, the meeting of "like-minded" MLAs called by Somashekar on April 30 was deferred citing preparations for the bypolls.
The party had asked all its MLAs to work for the Chincholi and Kundgol bypolls.
Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had also asked Somashekar and associate MLAs, who are considered close him, to postpone the meeting as it would send a wrong message ahead of by-polls.
Somashekar's invitation for the April 30 meeting of "like-minded" MLAs had created a flutter amid worries within the rulingCongress-JD(S) coalition and dissidence in the Congress surfacing again.
The meeting is likely to discuss issues faced by Congress MLAs under the coalition government and long-pending development work.
Also, the present political situation in the state and the implications of the Lok Sabha and assembly bypoll results will be discussed, Congress sources said.
According to the sources, as these MLAs are considered close to Siddaramaiah, they may also discuss the growing clamour for him to become CM once again and JD(S) leaders' public outburst on the issue.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and JD(S) leaders, including its state chief A H Vishwanath, are upset over a few Congress legislators including Ministers clamouring for Siddaramaiah becoming the Chief Minister once again.
Also, the meeting gains significance following Yeddyurappa's reported statement that the longevity of the state government would depend on the stand taken by about 20 "disgruntled" Congress legislators after the Lok Sabha election results.
Somashekar in January had embarrassed the coalition, especially Congress leaders, with his statement that Siddaramaiah be made Chief Minister again, and had claimed that development works had come to a grinding halt.
His comments had irked Kumaraswamy, who had even threatened to step down.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
