JD(S) supremo Gowda asks BJP K'taka chief Vijayendra to fight LS poll together without any confusion
Bengaluru (PTI): Newly appointed BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra on Monday said JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda has asked him that the BJP and JD(S) should fight the Lok Sabha elections together without giving room for confusion.
Vijayendra called on Deve Gowda, and former Chief Ministers S M Krishna and Basavaraj Bommai at their residence as part of his courtesy meetings. The 47-year-old younger son of veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa was appointed to the post on November 10, and he would formally take over on November 15.
Vijayendra, who met Gowda at his Padmanabha Nagar residence, touched his feet and sought blessings, and offered a shawl, garland and a bouquet of flowers.
JD (S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September and the two parties said they would soon finalise the seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
Later speaking to mediapersons, Vijayendra said Gowda was happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given him a major responsibility and he should tour across the state just as his father and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.
"He (Deve Gowda) told me the BJP and the JD(S) should fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together without giving room for any confusion, solve the problems amicably and march forward," the BJP state chief said.
Noting that BJP and its ally have set a target to win maximum number of seats in the Lok Sabha election, Vijayendra said Gowda told him that next year's poll is crucial as it is "related to the future of the country".
Gowda (90) also stressed on drawing more youths into politics.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Bommai at his residence, Vijayendra said Bommai has assured him that he would travel across Karnataka to campaign for the party under his leadership for the Lok Sabha polls.
"I met former CM and our senior Basavaraj Bommai on the occasion of Deepavali and took his blessings and sought his continued guidance," Vijayendra said.
According to the first-time Shikarpura MLA, Bommai was happy that the BJP national leaders have taken a good decision which will give a big boost to the state BJP unit.
"He (Bommai) said he will be with us always. He also said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election is crucial as it will shape the future of the country. We have to face together with unity. He also said he will travel across the state to strengthen the party of my leadership," Vijayendra said.
Vijayendra said he has requested Bommai to attend the ceremony when he formally takes charge on Wednesday.
On his appointment, he said the decision was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J P Nadda and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santhosh.
"They have taken the decision in the interest of the party. I am in touch with all the senior party leaders and everybody is happy. It is unfair to draw any wrong conclusion," he added.
Vijayendra also met the 91-year-old Krishna, who joined the BJP in 2017 after a 45-year association with the Congress.
Krishna served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, as Maharashtra Governor from 2004 to 2008 and held the position of External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012.
In January this year, Krishna announced his retirement from active politics.
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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.
