RS poll scene hots up in Karnataka as BJP-JD(S) fields second candidate
Bengaluru, Feb 15: The Rajya Sabha election scene in Karnataka heated up with the BJP-JD(S) combine fielding its second candidate, even though the alliance has the strength to win only one out four seats.
The biennial election to fill four vacancies from Karnataka in Rajya Sabha, by the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly, is scheduled for February 27.
The ruling Congress, whose strength is 135 in the 224-member Assembly, along with the support of Darshan Puttanaiah from Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha, and two Independents is expected to retain the three seats.
The BJP and JD(S) with 66 and 19 members respectively are in a position to together win one seat.
According to official sources, each candidate has to get 45 votes to win, if there are only four candidates in the fray, but in the case of more candidates, then preference votes kick in.
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The Congress has fielded Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain and G C Chandrasekhar as party candidates, and all of them filed their nominations on Thursday, accompanied by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Former MLC Narayansa Bandage, who is the BJP candidate, too filed his nomination accompanied by state BJP President B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka among others. They were joined by JD(S) president and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
In a surprise move, JD(S) leader and former Rajya Sabha Member D Kupendra Reddy too filed a nomination today, necessitating a contest. He was accompanied by Kumaraswamy, Vijayendra and Ashoka.
Kumaraswamy said Reddy was fielded based on the advice of BJP central and state leaders.
"I know there are doubts about numbers. Everything will be clear after the election results. Our party has 19 MLAs. The BJP, after ensuring one victory, will be left with additional votes. We didn't want opposition votes to go waste," he said.
Vijayendra said Reddy has filed his nomination after discussions between the BJP central leaders and the JD(S) leadership yesterday.
"The JD(S) will also have its own plan of action and both parties will work together for our candidate's win," he added.
Stating that he is contesting as a NDA candidate, Reddy said he needs four additional votes to win. "I'm confident of winning."
Shivakumar, who is also Congress' state president, said the Rajya Sabha elections will be a "display of unity" by the party.
"We have sufficient votes. Our three candidates will get elected to the Rajya Sabha and will work towards getting justice to the state," he said.
To a question on 'conscience' votes, Shivakumar said, "JD(S) has failed, and that's the reason they've tied up with BJP. I'm confident we'll get their conscience votes. Will tell you after voting on the conscience votes we get."
The election is necessitated to fill in four Rajya Sabha seats from the state that are getting vacant due to the retirement of Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar from the BJP, and Congress' Chandrashekar, L Hanumanthaiah and Hussein, on April 2, after the expiry of a six-year term.
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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.
