Sitting BJP MLAs, barring 4 to 6, likely to get tickets to contest Assembly polls: Yediyurappa
Kalaburagi (K'taka) (PTI): Veteran BJP leader and party's Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday hinted that sitting party MLAs, barring four to six, are likely to get tickets to contest the Assembly polls by May.
The party's strongman said the BJP would decide on who the next Chief Minister would be at the legislature party meeting after the elections.
"There are more chances that most of the sitting MLAs, other than four or six of them, will be given the tickets," the former Chief Minister said in response to a question whether all the sitting legislators will get the tickets.
Asked whether BJP is planning to get leaders from other parties and induct them into the BJP ahead of polls, he said, "Welcome to anyone who wants to join, and those who want to quit, can go out happily....Many are willing to join the party, we will welcome them."
To a question on who will be the Chief Ministerial candidate of the BJP, Yediyurappa said, it will be decided at the legislature party meeting after the election, and now the polls will be held under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Responding to a question that people may "go away" from the BJP, sensing that a leader like Yediyurappa will no more be its CM face, he said, "there is no such thing, wherever I'm travelling we are getting huge response, people are gathering beyond our expectations, seeing all this it is certain that we will win more than 140 seats and come to power with a clear majority, no one can stop it."
The octogenarian has already announced his retirement from electoral politics, by declaring that he will not be contesting the upcoming Assembly polls.
He also chided Congress stating that its leaders are dreaming about becoming the Chief Minister, which will never happen.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
