Bengaluru:The Communist Party of India (Marxist) ruled out the possibilities of having alliance with th JD-S on Monday by announcing the list of 19 candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

The JD(S) supremo had held talks with CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury on having a “secular alliance” in Karnataka to fight against both the BJP and the Congress.

But with the JD(S) announcing candidates for Bagepalli (Manohar) and Chickballapur (Bachche Gowda), the possibility of an alliance had hit a road block.

The CPI(M) wanted a few constituencies, especially Bagepalli, from where G.V. Sriram Reddy is contesting. Mr. Reddy represented Bagepalli in 1994 and 2004.

The CPI(M) is fielding four candidates in Dakshina Kannada district, followed by three in Bengaluru, two each in Chickballapur, Kolar, and Ballari, and one candidate each in Kalaburagi, Koppal, Udupi, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, and Gadag.

Besides Mr. Reddy, Karnataka Pratna Raitha Sangha leader Maruthi Manpade from Kalaburagi Rural (Reserved), DYFI State president Muneer Katipalla (Mangaluru South) are among the 19 candidates.

The other candidates of the party are Ravichandra Reddy (Gauribidanur), Sunil Kumar Bajal (Mangaluru North), Nitin Kumar Kuttar (Mangaluru), Yadava Shetty (Moodbidri), G .Nagaraj (Gangavathi), D. Mahadesh (Anekal), H.N. Gopala Gowda (K.R. Puram), Pratap Simha (Dasarahalli), Suresh Kalagar (Byndoor), P.R. Suryanarayana (Srinivasapur), Thangraj (Kolar Gold Fields – SC), B. Malamma (Hagaribommanahalli – SC), V.S. Shivashankar (Kampli – ST), Gaibu Jainekhan (Ramdurg), Yamuna Gaonkar (Haliyal), and M.S. Hadpad (Ron).

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.



New Delhi: West Indies batting great Brian Lara has voiced strong support for Virat Kohli to continue his Test career, amid reports that the Indian superstar recently expressed a desire to retire from the longest format of the game.

According to reports, the 36-year-old informed selectors of his intention to step away from Test cricket ahead of India’s five-match tour of England, scheduled to begin on June 20. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly urged the former captain to reconsider his decision.

Amid growing speculation, Lara urged that Kohli needed to be persuaded to stay on in the red-ball format. Posting a photo of himself with Kohli on Instagram, Lara wrote: "Test cricket needs Virat!! He is going to be persuaded. He is NOT going to retire from Test cricket." He further added that Kohli is going to average above 60 for the remainder of his Test career, underlining his confidence in Kohli's ability to remain a force in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, BCCI sources have reportedly stated that a “highly influential cricketing figure” is expected to reach out to Kohli in the coming days to convince him to stay on, especially with a high-profile England series on the horizon. Squad selection for the tour is expected around May 16.

Kohli, widely regarded as one of the modern greats, has played 210 Test innings, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of over 45, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, which stands as an extraordinary record that has defined India’s dominance in red-ball cricket.