Sitting BJP MLAs, barring 4 to 6, likely to get tickets to contest Assembly polls: Yediyurappa
Kalaburagi (K'taka) (PTI): Veteran BJP leader and party's Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday hinted that sitting party MLAs, barring four to six, are likely to get tickets to contest the Assembly polls by May.
The party's strongman said the BJP would decide on who the next Chief Minister would be at the legislature party meeting after the elections.
"There are more chances that most of the sitting MLAs, other than four or six of them, will be given the tickets," the former Chief Minister said in response to a question whether all the sitting legislators will get the tickets.
Asked whether BJP is planning to get leaders from other parties and induct them into the BJP ahead of polls, he said, "Welcome to anyone who wants to join, and those who want to quit, can go out happily....Many are willing to join the party, we will welcome them."
To a question on who will be the Chief Ministerial candidate of the BJP, Yediyurappa said, it will be decided at the legislature party meeting after the election, and now the polls will be held under the leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Responding to a question that people may "go away" from the BJP, sensing that a leader like Yediyurappa will no more be its CM face, he said, "there is no such thing, wherever I'm travelling we are getting huge response, people are gathering beyond our expectations, seeing all this it is certain that we will win more than 140 seats and come to power with a clear majority, no one can stop it."
The octogenarian has already announced his retirement from electoral politics, by declaring that he will not be contesting the upcoming Assembly polls.
He also chided Congress stating that its leaders are dreaming about becoming the Chief Minister, which will never happen.
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PM Modi speaks to Iranian president, discusses 'serious' situation in West Asia
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the "serious situation" in West Asia.
Modi expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure.
The prime minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India's top priorities.
“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi said in a post on X.
The prime minister also reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability and urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the crisis.
The prime minister had spoken to leaders of several West Asian countries in the last 10 days in the wake of the coordinated offensive launched against Iran by the United States and Israel, in which the Islamic country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed last month.
In retaliation, Iran has fired drones and missiles at Israel and US military installations around the Gulf region, including the global business and aviation hubs of Dubai and Doha.
Modi earlier spoke to the leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Israel and Qatar, and expressed concern over the attacks on their countries, and condemned the violation of some nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing in those countries.
Around 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf and West Asia. While about 10,000 Indian citizens live, study and work in Iran, more than 40,000 live in Israel.
