Security beefed up at BJP office in Bengaluru ahead of candidate list release
Bengaluru: In anticipation of the release of its candidate list for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly increased security at its office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. According to sources, the party has taken this step to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure the safety of its leaders and workers.
The BJP is expected to announce its list of candidates for the elections soon, which is likely to trigger intense political activity in the state.
The BJP has been in power in Karnataka since 2019, and the upcoming elections are seen as a crucial test for the party's popularity and performance. With several key issues at stake, including the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and the state's economic development, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations.
The party's office in Malleshwaram is a key hub of activity for the BJP in the state, and the increased security measures are expected to remain in place until after the elections are concluded. The Karnataka assembly elections are scheduled to take place next month, and the BJP is hoping to retain power in the state for another term.
Meanwhile, Congress took a dig at the Saffron party for not releasing its first list of candidates yet.
“The BJP has proven its incompetence through its failure to release even one list till now,” the Congress has said.
“Why is Home Minister Amit Shah, and not BJP President JP Nadda, selecting candidates? Nadda is the national president of the BJP only on paper; he has no freedom to take any major decision in the party. This is proof of the autocracy in the BJP,” Congress added.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
