Kharge, Muniyappa and Devegowda's lose inevitable: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, Apr 26: State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa Friday predicted the defeat of top leaders of the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance, including former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, senior Congress leaders Veerappa Moily and Mallikarjun Kharge in the Lok Sabha polls.
Signalling possible political instability in the state after the Lok Sabha poll results, the former Chief Minister said differences between Congress and JD(S) would increase after the results are out on May 23.
"I have been saying this with confidence that we will win more than 300 seats across the country this time.
InKarnataka, we will win at least 22 (out of 28) Lok Sabha seats. I'm saying this with confidence," Yeddyurappa said.
Addressing party MLAs, MPs and leaders meeting in the backdrop of bypolls to Chincholi and Kundgol assembly seats on May 19, he said "the atmosphere is in our favour to an extent that Veerappa Moily has already lost against our candidate; in Kolar also K H Muniyappa will lose against our candidate Muniswamy."
"According to our calculations, Mallikarjun Kharge will lose against our candidate 100 per cent, and in Tumkur the situation is that you will not be surprised if Deve Gowda is defeated.
This is what we are hearing, I'm not saying this for the media or to satisfy you, this is based on information we have gathered," he added.
While JD(S) patriarch Gowda is pitted against BJP's Basavaraj in Tumkur, Congress leader and former chief Minister Moily is fighting a tough battle against BJP's Bachche Gowda in Chikkaballapur.
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is fighting Umesh Jadhav of BJP in Gulbarga, and in Kolarformer Union Minister K H Muniyappa of Congress is pitted against Muniswamy of the saffron party.
Claiming that stalwarts of the Congress-JD(S)coalition would face defeat in this election, Yeddyurappa said the internal rift between the partners has once again started, and after the poll results are out the situation would worsen.
"In such a situation, by-elections for Chincholi and Kundgol have also come, which we will have to win hundred per cent," he said, adding that names of candidates have been recommended to the party high command and would be finalised and announced by tomorrow.
The outcome of the by-polls, along with the Lok Sabha results, is crucial for the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance as it would have a bearing on the longevity of the coalition government, triggering the numbers game in the assembly.
The by-poll to Chincholi was necessitated as Umesh Jadhavquit as Congress MLA and joined BJP to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga, while Kundgol seat fell vacant following the death of MLA and Minister C S Shivalli.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
