Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde to Join Congress Party Today
Udupi: Former Chairman of the Karnataka Backward Class Commission and ex-MP Jayaprakash Hegde has announced his decision to join the Congress party on Tuesday.
According to official sources, the joining ceremony will take place at 4 pm at the KPCC office in Bengaluru.
"I have decided to re-enter active politics to work towards the development of the coastal region. Accordingly, I will join the Congress party at the KPCC office in Bangalore on March 12 at 4 pm," said K. Jayaprakash Hegde.
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Hegde, hailing from Korgi in Kundapur taluk, had a long political career. He won consecutively as an independent from the Brahmavara assembly constituency for 14 years. After Brahmavara constituency was eliminated due to redistricting, he joined the Congress in 2008 and contested from the Kundapur constituency, though unsuccessfully. He then contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency but lost. However, he won the Lok Sabha by-election in 2012. In 2017, he joined the BJP but has now returned to the Congress party.
Hegde served as the Chairman of the Karnataka Backward Class Commission during the previous BJP government, a position he continued to hold under the Congress Government. He recently submitted a report on the caste census to the government.
Jayaprakash Hegde has now returned to the Congress fold.
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Karnataka govt to establish Gig Workers’ Welfare Board
Bengaluru, Apr 3 (PTI): The Karnataka government decided to establish a Gig Workers’ Welfare Board, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office said on Thursday.
The decision was made following a discussion between Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Rahul Gandhi inquired about the timeline for formulating the Gig Workers' Welfare Act, which he had promised during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and the elections.
"The Karnataka government has decided to establish a Gig Workers' Welfare Board to ensure the well-being of workers employed by companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Ola, Uber, and others," the statement said.
It further stated that a five per cent cess would be collected from the concerned companies, while the state government would provide the remaining funds required to support welfare schemes for gig workers.
"A comprehensive bill covering all aspects of gig workers' welfare will be prepared and presented before the state cabinet for approval," the statement added.
Three gig worker representatives—Rakshitha Dev, Sheikh Salahuddin, and Nikhil Dev—were also invited to the meeting.
They appreciated the government's initiative and expressed hope for improved working conditions.
State ministers Santosh Lad, Priyank Kharge, and M B Patil were present at the meeting.
Santosh Lad was quoted as saying that Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier advocated for gig workers' rights during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, welcomed the eight-point proposal prepared by the Labour department.
Rahul Gandhi also emphasised the need for swift implementation to safeguard gig workers' interests.
"The Karnataka Labour Department has already introduced three key bills—covering workers' gratuity, cinema workers' rights, and now, gig workers' welfare. The unorganised workers' sector has lauded the government's efforts and extended full support for this progressive move," the statement quoted Lad as saying.
