Bengaluru: Senior Congress legislator in Karnataka, Basavaraj Rayareddy, has extended his support to Minister KN Rajanna's proposal for the appointment of three new Deputy Chief Ministers (DCMs) in the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In a press statement on Saturday, Rayareddy not only endorsed the demand but also suggested increasing the number of new DCMs to six.

Rayareddy addressed reporters, stating, "Minister Rajanna has made an appropriate demand, and I fully endorse it. Given that the Congress party represents and supports all religions and castes, I propose that Karnataka appoint six new Deputy Chief Ministers before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections."

He emphasized that such a move would ensure not only representation for various religions and castes but also equitable representation for different zones within Karnataka. Rayareddy further explained that party leaders believe creating additional DCM positions could increase the party's chances of winning a greater number of Lok Sabha seats.

"I believe that instead of limiting the number to just three new Deputy Chief Ministers, we should consider appointing six Deputy Chief Ministers to achieve our goals," concluded Rayareddy.

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.