K’taka Polls 2023: Congress hits Jackpot as Veerashaiva Lingayat Forum backs support; issues letter
Hubballi: In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayat forum has officially declared its support for the Congress party. This announcement is expected to greatly strengthen the Congress party's standing in the crucial Lingayat-dominated areas of the state. The forum has issued an official letter expressing its support, indicating a significant boost for the Congress party in the region.
On May 5, Jagadish Shettar, a popular Lingayat leader and member of the Congress party, held a meeting with seers from the Lingayat community in Hubbali, Seeking their support for the party in the upcoming elections. Shettar, a former chief minister, recently joined the Congress party after being denied a ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Laxman Savadi, who previously served as the deputy chief minister during the tenure of the BJP government led by BS Yediyurappa, also belongs to the Lingayat community.
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The Lingayat votes have long played a crucial role in shaping electoral results in the state of Karnataka. Historically, in the past the community has shown strong support for the BJP, and regions with a significant Lingayat population have often been regarded as strongholds for the saffron party. However, a notable shift in the political landscape might be on the horizon as the Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayat forum has recently backed the Congress party. This development could bring about significant changes in the political dynamics of the state.
Lingayats hold a significant presence in northern Karnataka, particularly in the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, and Gadag. They also have a notable population in Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar, and Raichur. In addition, they inhabit substantial areas of South Karnataka, including Bangalore, Mysore, and Mandya, where their numbers are considerable. This community is regarded as a crucial demographic in the state, as their voting preferences frequently influence election outcomes.
Karnataka will go for polls on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13. Meanwhile, In Lingayat-dominated areas, the Congress party hopes to make significant gains with the Veerashaiva Lingayat forum backing them.
कांग्रेस नेताओं ने कर्नाटक के हुबली में लिंगायत संतों से मुलाकात की#lingayats #KarnatakaElections pic.twitter.com/BSBAKOg8d9
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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.
