BJP announces candidates for Bagalkote and Davangere South constituencies, Congress yet to decide
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP on Thursday announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly bypolls in Karnataka’s Bagalkote and Davangere South constituencies, which have fallen vacant, necessitating fresh elections.
The party has fielded Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkote and Srinivas T Dasakariyappa from Davangere South, following the approval of its Central Election Committee.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP’s Central Election Committee held on March 18 under the chairmanship of party leader Nitin Nabin, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and other members in attendance.
The bypolls were necessitated following the deaths of sitting Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, which resulted in vacancies in the Davanagere South and Bagalkote Assembly segments respectively.
The BJP said the names were finalised after due deliberations by the committee for various assembly by-elections being held across states in 2026.
The announcement comes amid heightened political activity in Karnataka, with parties gearing up for the bypolls that are seen as a key test of strength at the constituency level.
The relatives of Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti are demanding Congress tickets.
Congress is yet to announce its candidates though Meti's family members met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, who is also Congress state unit president, and demanded a ticket.
Siddaramaiah on Wednesday told reporters that three members from the Meti family had sought the ticket—Mallikarjun, Umesh, and Mahadev, to contest from Bagalkote.
Shivashankarappa's son S S Mallikarjun, who is Congress Davangere North MLA, is demanding ticket for his son Samarth Shamanur for Davangere South, Congress sources said.
"In all likelihood, Samarth may get the ticket," a Congress leader told PTI.
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VP, PM greet civil servants on Civil Services Day
New Delhi (PTI): Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted civil servants on the occasion of Civil Services Day and said it is time to further strengthen the resolve to work towards good governance and nation building.
The Vice President said as the enduring pillar of India's administrative framework, the efforts of the civil servants in strengthening governance and delivering public services are of immense significance.
The prime minister said from the grassroots to policy-making, the efforts of civil servants touch countless lives and contribute to India's progress
"On the occasion of Civil Services Day, I extend my warm greetings to all civil servants and convey my sincere appreciation for your dedication and exemplary service to the nation," Radhakrishnan said in a post on X.
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He said the theme for this year, "Viksit Bharat: Citizen-Centric Governance and Development at the Last Mile", aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and underscores the Government's commitment to transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance, with a strong emphasis on last-mile delivery and inclusive development.
"Let us all celebrate the day and continue to work collectively towards building an inclusive and developed India," he said.
The Vice President will deliver the keynote address at the Civil Services Day celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
In his message, Modi greeted all civil servants on Civil Services Day and said this is an occasion to further strengthen the resolve to work towards good governance and nation building.
"May our civil servants continue to serve with excellence, compassion and innovation, upholding the highest standards of duty," he said.
The prime minister said service to the nation is the foundation of a 'Developed India'.
"On the glorious occasion of Civil Services Day, let us reaffirm our resolve to build a strong, prosperous, and sensitive India by bringing the person standing at the last line into the mainstream of development," he said.
The central government celebrates April 21 every year as 'Civil Services day' as an occasion for civil servants to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen and renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.
This date is chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 in Delhi, and referred to civil servants as the 'steel frame of India'.
