Karnataka: After ousting of two MLA’s, BJP’s seat strength in state assembly plummets to 62
Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party which had secured 66 seats in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, being the official opposition party, has now lost its seat strength, plummeting to 62 MLA’s, owing to different reasons.
The party’s recent seat share decline came as a result of its disciplinary committee issuing ousting orders against two MLAs, S.T. Somashekar (Yeshwanthpur) and Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) on Tuesday.
The BJP's strength had declined down to 65 following the victory of the Congress candidate in the by-election to the Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district, the seat fell vacant following the election of Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai’s election to the Lok Sabha.
Following this, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was expelled from the primary membership of the party on March 26 on charges of anti-party activities, reducing the party's seat number to 64.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Yeshwanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekar and Yellapur MLA Shivaram were expelled from the BJP for six years over anti-party activities, bringing down the strength of BJP MLAs to 62.
Currently, out of the total 224 seats in the state, the ruling Congress has 138, BJP has 62, JDS has 18, Independents have 2, expelled 3 and 1 seat is vacant.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
