1. Karnataka Portfolios: JD(S) to Get Finance, Congress to Get Home
After days of hectic negotiations, the JD(S) will get the Finance portfolio in Karnataka and the Congress the Home department, highly placed sources in the parties said in New Delhi on Thursday, 31 May
The coordination committee will announce the decision on the cabinet formation and portfolio allocations on Friday, said Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Talking to the media on the Thursday night, he said: “There are no issues, after several rounds of diiscussions, a decision agreeable to all parties has been taken. It will be announced tomorrow (Friday).”
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2. Congress’ Win in RR Nagar Douses BJP’s Hopes for a Sympathy Wave
A sympathy wave in their party’s favour was the least the BJP was expecting, after failing to get the numbers to win the vote of confidence. BS Yeddyurappa’s emotional speech, blaming the ‘unholy alliance’ of the JD(S) and Congress while announcing his resignation, was part of this desperate attempt play the victim card.
But the results of the Rajarajeshwari Nagar re-elections has poured cold water over the BJP’s hopes for garnering sympathy. On Thursday, 31 May, the Congress won the RR Nagar constituency with a margin of over 25,400 votes.
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3. Demonetised Currency Case: CBI Raid Likely Against DK Shivakumar
Armed with a search warrant it obtained on Wednesday, 30 May, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might raid the houses of friends and relatives of Congress leader DK Shivakumar in connection with the demonetised currency notes case, agency sources said.
One bank manager, who was held in the demonetisation currency case, has said that he did it at the behest of senior Congress leader DK Suresh. The CBI has obtained search warrant against Suresh and 11 others.
(Source: The Times of India)
4. Gauri Lankesh Murder: 4 Suspects to be Quizzed
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of editor-activist Gauri Lankesh on Thursday, 31 May, took custody of four men arrested by the Bengaluru city police for allegedly attempting to kill Mysuru-based rationalist thinker Prof KS Bhagavan.
The SIT will have custody of the accused for 11 days. It will be questioning them as they are suspected to have played a role in the murder of Gauri, shot dead outside her house last September.
One of the four is Sujith Kumar alias Praveen, 37, who hails from Shikaripura. SIT sources said he is a key link between the Gauri and the Bhagavan plots.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Protest Against Church Street Privatisation
Several citizens are coming together to protest the proposed privatisation of the recently developed Church Street. After spending crores of rupees to revamp the popular street, the civic body is looking for a private agency to maintain it. However, this has not gone down well with some citizen groups.
The protest to be staged on Friday, 1 June, has been organised by the Forum for Urban Governance and Commons (FUGC) who are demanding that the civic body cancel all plans to privatise the city’s roads.
Kshitij Urs of FUGC told The Hindu that it is for the first time that an agreement is being signed on handing over the natural responsibilities of the state government and the local government (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) to a private agency.
(Source: The Hindu)
6. Karnataka Bans School Teachers From Using Cellphones at Work
The state government has banned use of mobile phones by teachers and other staff in both government and private schools.
The circular issued by the director of public instruction (primary education) has cited that the use of cellphones by teachers and other employees during working hours is affecting teaching activities and asked the heads of the schools to act. The May 9 circular has exempted headmasters/headmistresses from the ban, but they too have been prohibited from using phones while teaching.
(Source: The Times of India)
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