Udupi, Sept.1: Udupi city municipal that holds historical importance has no Muslim candidate in upcoming local body election.

The three major political parties haven't named a single Muslim candidate in any ward.

Udupi which has taluk board in 1935 had philanthropist Haji Abdullah Udupi as its president. Even today during city municipal general meetings, municipal president sit on the chair that was once used by Haji Abdullah. His chair is of historical importance.

There are 35 wards in Udupi city municipal. Both congress and BJP has fielded their candidates in all these wards. JDS has nominated candidates for nine wards. But there is not a single Muslim candidate.

Congress has nominated six Christian candidates. Harmis Noronha (Moodabettu), Babita Kola (Malpe Central), Selina Karkada (Muduperampalli), Irine Menezes (Gopalapur), Ranold Pravin Kumar (Ambalpady) and Hilary Jathanna (Indiranagar).

Indiranagar, Karamballi and Vadabhandeshwara wards have the highest Muslim population. But congress has opted to Shekhar Kotian in Vadabhandeshwara (reserved-general) and Yadava Karkera in Karamballi (backward class A). Though the party had the opportunity to field Muslim candidates here, it didn't find a winning candidate from the community.

Even JDS has not fielded a single Muslim candidate. Earlier, JDS had said that it will give ticket to Arif Karamballi in Gundibail ward. But Arif had clearly said that he is a BJP worker and will not fight election under JDS flag. BJP has given ticket to Edwin Karkada in Malpe central. There is no Muslim candidate from BJP too.

Congress had not given ticket to single Muslim candidate even in 2014 Udupi city municipal election. 22 congress candidates emerged victorious in the election and for the first time the party had grabbed the power in Udupi.

As there was Congress government in the state during that time Hasan Ajjarkad was nominated as the member of Udupi city municipal.



Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha "betrayal of the woman power" of the nation.

A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated on Friday.

In a post on X in Hindi, late on Friday night, Adityanath said, "Today, a dark chapter has been added to the history of India's great democracy. The Opposition's obstruction of the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill essential for the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is a blow to the honour of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). It is a betrayal of the entire woman power of the nation; it is an infringement upon their democratic rights.

"The Congress-led 'INDI' alliance has exposed its anti-women mindset. The women of the nation are watching and understanding everything. They will remember this deceit and injustice, and when the time comes, they will surely give a reply. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the NDA alliance will continue its unwavering efforts to protect the honour, dignity, and rights of women, and to ensure their empowerment."

While 298 members voted in support of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.

According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.

Seats were also to be increased in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.

This was for the first time that a Bill under the Modi government was defeated in Parliament.