Karnataka: Polls for 4 Rajya Sabha seats on June 10
Bengaluru, May 12: Biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka and two graduates' and teachers' constituencies of the state Legislative Council will be held on June 10 and 13 respectively, the Election Commission of India said on Thursday.
The elections to four seats of Rajya Sabha is necessitated as the term of office of members - Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Finance Minister) and K C Ramamurthy of BJP, and Jairam Ramesh and late Oscar Fernandes of Congress is due to expire on June 30.
While the term of office of four sitting members of Karnataka Legislative Council from 2 graduates' and 2 teachers' Constituencies is expiring on July 4.
The four members are Nirani Hanamant Rudrappa of BJP from North-West Graduates' constituency, K T Srikantegowda of JD(S) South Graduates' constituency, Arun Shahapur of BJP from North-West Teachers' constituency and Basavaraj Shivalingappa Horatti of JD(S) from West Teachers' constituency.
The date of issuing of notification for Rajya Sabha poll in the state is on May 24, last date of making nominations is May 31 and scrutiny of nominations will take place on the next day. Last date for withdrawal of candidatures is June 3, counting of votes will take place on June 10 after the polling hours between 9 am to 4 pm.
While in the case of MLC polls, issue of notification is on May 19, last date of making nominations is May 26, scrutiny of nominations will take place on the next day. Last date for withdrawal of candidatures is May 30 and counting of votes will take place on June 15.
Members of Rajya Sabha are elected by the method of indirect election, by elected members of the Legislative Assembly of that State, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.
For MLC polls to two each graduates and teachers constituencies, members are elected by an electorate consisting of graduates and teachers.
The Model Code of Conduct concerning MLC elections will come into force with immediate effect.
The ruling BJP has already announced the candidates for three -- two sitting MLCs, Arun Shahpur (North West Teachers' constituency) and Hanumant Rudrappa Nirani (North West Graduates' constituency), and former MLC M V Ravishankar (South Graduates' Constituency).
Basavaraj Horatti, who is currently the Legislative Council Chairman and was elected on a JD(S) ticket last time is likely to be BJP's candidate from West Teachers' constituency.
Congress has fielded Madhu G Madegowda from South Graduates' constituency, Basavaraja Gurikara from West Teachers' constituency, and Prakash Hukkeri from North East Teachers' constituency.
JD(S) has decided to field Chandrashekhar Loni as its candidate from North West Teachers' constituency.
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.
BJP stages walkout in Karnataka assembly over 'non-disbursal' of Gruha Lakshmi payout
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The opposition BJP on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Karnataka assembly protesting the alleged "non-disbursal" of two months' installments to 1.26 crore beneficiaries under a woman's assistance scheme of the state government.
The protest followed a heated debate in which the opposition accused the state government of providing "misleading" information regarding the payment status of the flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
The saffron party members trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans, leading to the adjournment of the proceedings of the House for over an hour.
ALSO READ: 'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
The Gruha Lakshmi guarantee scheme is one of the five pre-poll promises of the ruling Congress. It provides Rs 2,000 monthly to women heads of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
The BJP legislators accused Woman and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar of having "misled" the House by giving false information to BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai that all the instalments till August have been paid under the scheme.
The opposition charged that the installments for the months of February and March this year were not paid.
The BJP MLAs' grouse was that they had been demanding an explanation from the Minister for the past three days, but she never turned up to provide information.
As soon as the session started, the opposition members trooped into the well of the House demanding the Minister's presence, which led to the adjournment.
When the members assembled again, the Minister replied that this is a unique flagship programme of the Congress government, which is a model for all the states.
Hebbalkar said she always strived to ensure that this scheme is implemented religiously.
"However, when I checked, I noticed that two months' installments were not paid to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). If my reply has hurt anyone, then I express my regret," she said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who came to the defence of Hebbalkar, said the BJP should apologise for the lie in the Union Budget.
"Despite the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Irrigation Project in the budget, the money was not given to Karnataka. You should question that as well," Shivakumar underlined.
ALSO READ: Actress Shilpa Shetty's restaurant booked for breaching operating hours
To this, Leader of Opposition in the assembly R Ashoka said the matter was raised because not only were the BJP members hurt but also the 1.26 crore beneficiaries who were eagerly waiting for the money.
Demanding that the lie be expunged from the House records, he insisted on a date for when the backlog will be paid to the beneficiaries.
The Minister said she was apologising for giving a wrong reply, but she was peeved at the way a woman was targeted in the House.
Objecting to this statement, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar asked her to refrain from playing victim card and bring up the issue of gender, caste and religious discrimination as it was a matter related to 1.26 crore people.
Ashoka and the BJP MLAs then staged a walkout, saying the Minister's reply was not satisfactory.
