BJP MLA ST Somasekhar announces support for Congress in Lok Sabha elections
Bengaluru: In a surprising turn of events, BJP MLA from Yeshwanthpur constituency, ST Somasekhar, has declared his support for the Congress party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a gathering in Kengeri, Somasekhar stated that despite being a BJP member, he will work for the Congress to support his constituency's interests.
Taking a dig at BJP leaders, Somasekhar criticized the party for neglecting him and not seeking his support for the Lok Sabha elections. He expressed disappointment over not being invited to events attended by top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah.
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Asserting his independence from party directives, Somasekhar declared that he would campaign door-to-door for the Congress candidate, emphasizing that his constituency's voters are his priority. This decision comes after Somasekhar's earlier vote for a Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections, citing promises of grants for his constituency's development as the reason.
In response to potential backlash from the BJP, Somasekhar remained defiant, stating, "I am not afraid of anything, let the BJP do what they want."
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
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.
