BJP to decide Channapatna by-election candidate after talks with JD(S)
Bengaluru: BY Vijayendra, President of the Karnataka State Unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced that the party would decide on its candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Channapatna constituency after discussions with its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)]. The by-election is necessary due to the resignation of HD Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) State President, who stepped down as an MLA after winning the Lok Sabha seat from Mandya.
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Speaking to reporters on Friday, Vijayendra noted that Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar had shown interest in contesting from Channapatna. He emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with the voters, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of electoral outcomes. He referenced the recent defeat of DK Suresh, Shivakumar’s brother and former Congress MP, in the Bangalore Rural constituency during the Lok Sabha polls, despite the Congress's confidence in securing an easy win.
When questioned about BJP MP BP Harish’s comments attributing the party’s defeat in the Davanagere constituency to veteran BJP leader BS Yediyurappa and Vijayendra himself, the BJP President stated that such remarks are unproductive for both the party and the BJP-JD(S) coalition.
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Mumbai Metro lines 9 and 2B open for commuters
Mumbai (PTI): Commercial operations on the first phases of Mumbai Metro corridors 9 and 2B began on Wednesday morning, a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the mass-transit routes, officials said.
While the Metro 9 marks the first direct connectivity between a suburb in Mumbai and a part of Thane city in the metropolitan region, the Line 2B will provide the first metro connectivity on the Harbour Line in Mumbai.
The 5.6-km elevated Phase 1 stretch of Metro Line 9 comprises four stations -- Dahisar East, Pandurangwadi, Miragaon and Kashigaon. The 5.53-km Phase 1 of Metro Line 2B has five stations, including Deshbhakt N G Acharya Udyan (Diamond Garden), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Deonar, Mankhurd and Maharashtra Nagar–Mandale.
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According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Line 9 is expected to cut travel time between Mira-Bhayandar in Thane district and Mumbai to around 30 minutes from the current one to two hours. Built at Rs 6,607 crore, it will eventually provide seamless connectivity to south Mumbai through interlinking with other lines.
With the addition of the two new lines, Mumbai’s operational Metro network has expanded to six corridors, including Line 1 (Ghatkopar-Andheri-Versova), Line 2A (Andheri West-Dahisar East), Line 7 (Dahisar East-Andheri East) and the underground Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra Kurla Complex-SEEPZ).
As per MMRDA, the revised timetable for Line 2A and Line 7 came into effect on Wednesday, aimed at improving frequency, predictability and overall commuter experience.
It said that with the inauguration of Line 9, Metro Line 2A will now operate as a standalone corridor between Andheri West and Dahisar East, with services from 5.50 am till around 11 pm and a peak frequency of about six minutes.
The integrated Line 7-9 corridor (Gundavali to Kashigaon), spanning 19.79 km, will operate from 5.50 am to 11 pm, with a peak frequency of under six minutes and 276 services on weekdays.
Metro Line 2B (Phase 1) services commenced at 6 am and will run till around 10.30 pm at intervals of approximately nine-and-a-half minutes, operating 209 services daily, according to officials.
MMRDA said the integration of Line 7 with Line 9 enables direct connectivity from Andheri East to Mira-Bhayandar, while Lines 2A and 7 will function as separate corridors.
A seamless interchange facility at Dahisar station will allow passengers to switch between Lines 2A and 7 without exiting the “paid” (ticketed) area.
