Bengaluru: In a recent development, journalist Swathi Chandrashekar, alongside two-time MP Sanganna Karadi and three-time MLA from Belagavi Rural Shivaputra Malagi, officially joined the Congress party on Wednesday. The event took place in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Swathi Chandrashekar, whose Facebook profile identifies her as the Delhi Bureau Head of TV5 News, was also appointed as the spokesperson of the party shortly after her induction.

However, a closer examination of her background and social media activity revealed her previous affiliation as an active supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating her alignment with right-wing ideologies.

Chandrashekar's social media posts have showcased her support for senior BJP leader LK Advani, Prime Minister Modi, and her close association with BJP MP and party’s Yuva Morcha Chief Tejasvi Surya, known for his staunch Hindutva stance.

The appointment of Swathi Chandrashekar as the spokesperson of the Congress party, despite her prior allegiance to the BJP, has sparked debate across local social media platforms. Many users have criticized the party for the decision, questioning the rationale behind appointing someone with a history of supporting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP leaders.

The move has led to discussions regarding the party's strategy and its approach towards accommodating individuals with differing political backgrounds.

The appointment has raised eyebrows, particularly given Chandrashekar's vocal support for the BJP and its ideologies in the past. Critics argued that such appointments may dilute the party's ideological stance and raise questions about its commitment to its core principles.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka.

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.



Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.

The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.

"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.

The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.

There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.

Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.

The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.