1. Lobbying Intensifies for Ministerial Berths
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the need for a united Opposition front against the Bharatiya Janata Party seem to be the gel between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) at least for now.
Senior Congress and JD(S) leaders are trying to convince MLAs lobbying for ministership to be ready for some sacrifices in the larger interest of the Opposition unity at least till the 2019 elections.
A senior Congress leader from the city said that Congress’ reliability as a coalition partner was under test in the State in the run-up to 2019 and the success of this government is likely to bring several regional parties towards Congress. “In this larger context, issues like Ministries are small adjustments to be made,” he said.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. The Karnataka Mandate Was Anti-Congress: Amit Shah
Two days after BS Yeddyurappa-led BJP government failed to prove majority in the Karnataka Assembly, the party’s national president Amit Shah hit out at the JD(S)-Congress combine, calling it an ‘unholy alliance’.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Shah claimed that the mandate in Karnataka was ‘anti-Congress’ and lashed out at the party for celebrating ‘a defeat’.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka. This was not a confused mandate, it was anti-Congress. Half of their ministers lost. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lost from one seat too. This was undoubtedly an anti-Congress mandate,” Shah said.
(Source: The Quint)
3. Congress Embarrassed After its MLA Calls Audio Sting Released by Party 'Fake'
Hours before the trust vote in Karnataka on Saturday, Congress party released around 5 audio tapes in which high-profile BJP leaders including former CM BS Yeddyurappa and Muralidhar Rao were allegedly heard negotiating terms with Congress MLA-elects. The tapes gave Congress much mileage and put the BJP on the back-foot.
But the Congress on Monday was forced to go into into damage control mode after the party's MLA Shivaram Hebbar from Yellapur put up a Facebook post stating that the purported conversations between his wife and BJP leaders were fake.
“It's not the voice of my wife and my wife has never spoken to anyone on the phone. It is disdainful for anyone to duplicate tapes for political reasons. This audio tape is fake ... I condemn this,” Hebbar wrote on his Facebook.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Argument on WhatsApp Group Leads to Physical Fight Between Families
An argument on a WhatsApp group of an apartment complex in Nagappa Reddy Layout near Byappanahalli in east Bengaluru ended up in a police complaint and counter-complaint after members of two families got into a physical fight. While the incident happened on May 15, Byappanahalli police received the complaint on 18 May.
On 15 May, Ragini (name changed), 54, requested for a meeting to discuss security at her apartment complex through a message on a WhatsApp group for residents. Rachel’s (name changed) husband Arun, 28, who is the group administrator, responded that security personnel will be on duty only from 6am to 10pm.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Nipah scare: Avoid Trips to Kozhikode, Suggest Bengaluru Doctors
With the number of deaths rising in Kozhikode, Kerala due to Nipah virus, there has been concern among many Keralites hailing from that district and living in Bengaluru. According to doctors, immediate precautions have to be taken to prevent trips to Kozhikode.
For those who have travelled from Bengaluru to Kerala, precautions include avoiding eating fruit fallen on the ground and drinking raw date palm sap in Kerala.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Assailants Open Fire at Businessman
Armed assailants opened fire on a 62-year-old businessman on the busy Assaye Road in Pulakeshinagar on Monday. According to the police, the incident took place at 11.30 am.
The victim, Masood Ali, owns a furniture shop on St Marks Road. In his statement to the police, he claimed there were four assailants. They allegedly waylaid his car and opened fire when he was driving to work. Ali tried to evade them, but sustained a bullet injury on his back. He is said to be out of danger.
Police have booked the four accused in a case of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act.
(Source: The Hindu)
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