Bengaluru: The nomination process for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka begins today, with the notification for the election of 14 constituencies set to be released on Friday.

In Kalaburagi reserve constituency, Congress's Radhakrishna Doddamani is expected to file nomination papers on the first day, with AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge, KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, and others in attendance. E. Tukaram will also file his nomination in the Bellary reserved constituency on Friday.

Prominent candidates in the second phase include former CMs Jagdish Shettar in Belagavi, Basavaraj Bommai in Haveri Constituency, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Dharwad Constituency, all representing the BJP.

Voting in the second phase will be held in constituencies such as Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Kalyana, and Kittur. The BJP-JDS alliance has shared constituencies, with no constituencies ceded to JDS in the second phase, leading to direct competition between Congress and BJP in all 14 constituencies. However, there is a possibility of a three-way contest if candidates who have shown rebellion in four constituencies file their nomination papers.

The ruling Congress in the state and the ruling BJP at the centre consider this election a matter of prestige, especially in constituencies like Shivaogga and Dharwad for BJP, and Bagalkote and Davangere for Congress.

Phase 2 Constituencies:

Chikkodi, Belagavi, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere, and Shivamogga.

Rlection Schedule:

- April 12 – Notification
- April 19 – Last day for submission of nomination papers
- April 20 – Scrutiny of nomination papers
- April 22 – Last day to withdraw nomination papers
- May 7 – Voting
- June 4 – Counting of votes

Surpur By-election:

The notification for the by-election of Surpura ST reserved constituency will also be released on Friday (A.12), with the General Election 2nd phase schedule in the state applicable for this by-election.

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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.