Petition against Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad dismissed by Karnataka HC
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed the petition filed by B Lakshmidevi of Sampangi Ramanagar in the city challenging the election of Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad from Shivajinagar constituency in Bengaluru.
The petition was dismissed by the single-judge bench of Justice S Vishwajeet Shetty for lack of evidence that the MLA won the elections by illegal means.
The advocate representing the petitioner told the bench that the Congress wooed voters by promising them guarantee schemes and called it a violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Sections 123 (1) and 123 (2). Pointing out that making promises to influence voters is a crime as per Section 123 (4) of the Act, the advocate requested the High Court bench to declare as illegal the election of Arshad.
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Senior advocate KN Phaneendra, the MLA's lawyer, challenged the argument by stating that an election manifesto could not be considered a crime committed by a candidate. Nor could the manifesto be considered as evidence to an irregularity, he added and urged the bench to dismiss the petition against Arshad.
The High Court bench, after hearing the arguments and counter-arguments in the case, dismissed the petition against the Congress MLA.
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Cyclone Fengal: Pondy govt issues heavy rain alert to residents via SMS
Puducherry (PTI): Puducherry experienced heavy rains on Saturday morning prompting the union territory administration to send SMS alerts to around 12 lakh residents cautioning them to remain vigilant as cyclonic storm Fengal is expected to make landfall near here later in the day.
District Collector A Kulothungan told PTI that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that people remained safe.
"We have evacuated people from low lying areas and shelter homes are ready to accommodate them. Arrangements were also made to supply food packets," he said adding that National Disaster Relief Force from Arakonam has arrived to engage in relief and rehabilitation works.
According to the official, cyclone Fengal was expected to cross the coast in the evening. Control rooms have been opened in the collectorate and also in the line departments.
Toll free numbers 112, 1077 and also WhatsApp number 94889 81070 have been put in place to help people facing crisis to contact for help.
Cyclone Fengal is likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts close to Puducherry, official sources said. The government has advised people to stay indoors.
The entire stretch of beach road and also several tourist spots were closed to ensure that there was no movement of the people near the sea shore.
Schools and colleges remained closed today.
