Competition among BJP ticket aspirants natural for a winning party: CM Bommai
Belagavi (PTI): Amid reports that the BJP's many ticket aspirants in various constituencies for the upcoming Assembly election are in stiff competition with each other, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said it was natural that this would happen in a party that is confident of winning, and that the party and its leadership is capable of managing the situation.
He also hit out at the Congress' poll guarantees, saying that the opposition party will not come to power to implement them, and that the schemes it promised are non-implementable.
"There will be competition in a party that will win, so there is competition naturally (in the BJP)," Bommai said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the BJP and its leadership is capable of managing the situation. "To whomever the high command gives the ticket, everyone will support and ensure that the party wins with an absolute majority," he added.
The ruling BJP has set a target of winning at least 150 seats in the 224 member Assembly, which will go to polls by May.
According to some party sources, the stiff competition among aspirants may cause a bit of worry for the BJP in several of the constituencies, with the possibility of rebels emerging in a few places.
There are several new aspirants in many of the constituencies along with the old guard, and the party will have to strike a balance between them, party sources said, adding that winnability will be the criteria, and surveys may be considered while deciding on candidates.
Noting that several central leaders, including Chief Ministers of other states, were visiting Karnataka to campaign in favour of the BJP in various parts of the state, the Chief Minister said the party's organisation was strong.
Pointing to the various election-related activities of the party, such as the booth-level 'Vijay Sankalpa Yatre' and the beneficiaries' rally, among others, he said, "Activities are ongoing in almost all the constituencies. It has enthused workers, and we are confident about getting an absolute majority."
Taking a dig at the Congress' poll guarantees, Bommai said, "They do not have guarantee about themselves, so they are giving guarantee cards. What should people do with it? Make pickles?"
"They (Congress) will not come to power and they (the promises) will not be implemented. The schemes are not implementable as well. This is their new way of misguiding the people, but all people cannot be misguided at all times," he added.
The Congress has already announced three poll 'guarantees' -- 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi) and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya).
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Congress Corporator's daughter stabbed to death inside college campus in Hubballi
Hubballi (Karnataka), Apr 18: The daughter of a Congress Corporator was stabbed to death by her acquaintance inside BVB college campus here on Thursday after she allegedly rejected his proposal, police said.
The deceased Neha (23), the daughter of Niranjan Hiremath, was a first-year MCA student, they said.
The accused 23-year-old Fayaz, an MCA dropout, has been arrested in connection with the incident, police said, adding that both of them were batchmates during their BCA course.
The entire incident was caught on CCTV camera.
According to the police, Fayaz went inside the college campus with a knife and stabbed Neha five-six times. During the attack, he too sustained injuries and was shifted to the hospital along with the victim. At the hospital, Neha was declared brought dead.
ALSO READ: Double murder in B'luru park: Mother of woman stabbed to death kills daughter's murderer
"During interrogation, he (Fayaz) claimed that the two of them had been in a relationship and that she had suddenly started avoiding him. It needs to be corroborated and verified, but he was arrested immediately," a senior police officer said.
A case of murder has been registered, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Narrating about the incident, Neha's father Hiremath said that his daughter had classes from 8 am. At around 4.30 pm, when she stepped out after completing her classes, this person approached towards her and stabbed her nearly six times inside the college campus and she died on the spot.
"He (the accused) was an old student and he had proposed my daughter but she rejected his proposal. She did not like him and she usually stayed away from all this...She refused him saying they both belonged to different caste and that she did not wish to have any relationship with him. Out of anger, he stabbed my daughter," he told PTI videos.
Demanding justice for her daughter, he said that the accused should he hanged to death only then will his daughter's soul rest in peace.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident and offered condolences to the family of the deceased.
"An accused has already been arrested in connection with the incident and I have instructed the Director General of Police to conduct a strict investigation and take action to ensure maximum punishment for the accused," he said in a post on 'X'.
He also appealed to people to not take law into their hands.
"In connection with the incident, no one should get agitated and take law into their hands or attempt to disturb peace of the society. It is our duty to get justice for the death of the young woman, in this regard the police department will work hard," he added.
