Prakash Raj filed nomination as an Independent candidate
35 candidates file nominations for LS polls in state on Friday
Bengaluru, Mar 22: JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna, multi-lingual actor Prakash Raj and two sitting BJP MPs P C Mohan and Shobha Karandlaje were among 35 candidates who filed their nominations in Karnataka on Friday for the first phase of LokSabha polls in the state.
A total of 38 nominations have been received from 35 candidates on Friday, poll officials said, adding that cumulative nominations filed so far stands at 83 from 72 candidates.
While Prajwal Revanna filed his nomination from the family turf Hassan, Karandlaje filed her papers from Udupi-Chikmagalur and P C Mohan and Prakash Raj from Bangalore Central.
Marking the entry of the third generation of the Gowda family into electoral politics, Prajwal, son of PWD Minister H D Revanna filed nomination in the presence of his father, uncle and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and mother Bhavani Revanna, a Zilla Panchayat member in Hassan.
Prajwal was on a temple visiting spree ahead of his filing nomination as the Gowda family, especially Minister Revanna,is known for their strong belief in astrology and religious traditions.
After filing his nomination, Prajwal along with Kumaraswamy, addressed a huge gathering of supporters and public in Hassan.
Prajwal, who is the joint candidate of the Congress-JD(S)coalition, will take on BJP's A Manju.
Manju joined BJP on Sunday, unhappy with Congress' decision to cede Hassan seat to its coalition partner JD(S).
Manju was earlier with BJP before joining Congress and becoming a Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah led government and again returning to the saffron party.
Shobha Karandlaje filed her nomination from Udupi-Chikmagalur in the presence of party local leaders, including former Minister Jeevraj.
Despite resentment locally, BJP had announced her ticket on Thursday.
P C Mohan filed his nomination from Bangalore Central in the presence of senior BJP MLAs R Ashok, Suresh Kumar and Arvind Limbavali.
Prakash Raj, known as a staunch critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, will take on Mohan, as an independent candidate from Bangalore Central.
AAP has extended its support to Raj in Bangalore Central.
While BJP has announced its list of 21 candidates, Congress and JD(S) who have entered into a seat sharing of 20 and 8 seats respectively, are yet to finalise their list.
Karnataka will go for the polls in two phases, 14 constituencies each, on April 18 and 23.
While the last date for filing of nominations for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls is on March 26, scrutiny will take place on March 27.
The last date for withdrawal is March 29.
For the second phase polls on April 23, notification will be issued on March 28.
The last date for nominations is April 4.
Scrutiny will take place on April 5 and the last day for withdrawal is April 8.
Counting of votes and announcement of results for both phases will be on May 23.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
