CM Kumaraswamy to campaign for Congress in assembly by-polls
Bengaluru, May 10: Ending speculation about his participation in campaigning, amid strains in the ruling Congress-JD(S) government, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will canvass for Congress candidates in Kundgol and Chincholi assembly by-polls on May 13 and 14.
Kumaraswamy, who will reach Kundgol via Hubballi on Monday evening, will campaign for the Congresscandidate there, the Chief Minister's office said here Friday.
The next day he will travel to Kalaburagi and participate in some programmes there, before leaving forChincholi to take part in the campaign event there, the tentative schedule of the Chief Minister shared with the media, said.
The JD(S), which does not have much presence in the region,is supporting its alliance partner Congress' candidates in both the seats that are going for the May 19 bypolls.
Kumaraswamy's non-participation in campaigning had given rise to speculations in political circles that things are not right between the alliance partners.
The Chief Minister, who has not made any statement, amid talk of the longevity of the coalition government, also perceived trouble in the ruling alliance as there has been a growing clamour within Congress for CLP leader Siddaramaiah to be made ChiefMinister once again- is likely to open up on the issues during campaigning, JD(S) sources said.
The by-poll to Chincholi has been necessitated by the resignation of sitting member Umesh Jadhav, who quit Congress and joined the BJP to contest the recent Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga, while the Kundgol seat fell vacant following the deathof Minister C S Shivalli.
The main contest in this by-poll will be between the nominees of Congress, which held the seats and the BJP.
The Congress candidates are Subash Rathod inChincholi and Kusumavathi, Shivalli's wife, in Kundgol.
BJP has fielded S I Chikkanagowdar and AvinashJadhav from Kundgol and Chincholi assembly seats respectively.
Seventeen candidates are in the fray from Chincholi and eight from Kundgol assembly segment that will go for polls on May 19, for which the results will be declared on May 23, along with the Lok Sabha poll results.
The outcome of the by-polls, along with that of the elections to 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, held in two phases on April 18 and 23, is crucial for the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance, facing a fresh bout of dissidence.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
