1. SC Refuses to Stay Swearing-in
The Supreme Court has refused to stay the swearing-in of BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa saying it cannot intervene in the Governor’s decision. The court also added that it has not dismissed the petition by Congress-JD(S) but will take up the matter later on. The BJP which emerged as the single largest party in the elections has been given 15 days time to prove majority in the floor of the house.
The BJP has won 104 seats in the elections. The governor’s move will be a setback for the JD(S)-Congress alliance that has approached the governor with the signature of over 115 MLAs.
The drama over government formation in Karnataka intensified on Wednesday evening with a BJP MLA tweeting that the governor has invited his party to form the government. The BJP for Karnataka official twitter handle also tweeted the same but within a few minutes both the tweets were deleted.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. Karnataka Gov Invites BJP to Form Govt
After a day of intense speculations, Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday, 16 May, invited the BJP's BS Yeddyurappa to form government in the state.
In a letter addressed to the BJP leader, the governor granted the saffron party a period of 15 days to prove majority on the floor of the House.
"Yeddyurappa will be taking the oath alone tomorrow and the rest of the Cabinet will be sworn-in after proving the majority on the House of the floor," BJP's Murlidhar Rao said.
Following the governor's announcement, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of "blowing up the Constitution to shambles".
"The party that blew up the Constitution to shambles is teaching us the Constitution, the party that imposed President rule the most number of times is giving us lessons," Prasad said.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Flyover Collapse in Varanasi Was a Natural Disaster: Senior UP Bridge Corp Official
A senior official of Uttar Pradesh’s premier bridge construction agency that was building the flyover in Varanasi, a portion of which gave way on 15 May killing at least 18 people, said on 16 May the collapse was a “natural disaster” and blamed the authorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency for the deaths.
Rajan Mittal, the managing director of Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Ltd, also ruled out that poor quality construction material was used to build the flyover and said the thunderstorm that struck the city a couple of days ago could be the reason behind the incident.
“Preliminary findings point towards a loose cross-beam connection or a bearing failure. The beam may have got dislodged from its socket because of the thunder-storm and fell. So it may be a natural disaster,” Mittal said while speaking to the Hindustan Times.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. Govt Tells Security Forces Not to Launch Ops in Kashmir for Ramzan
Security forces have been asked not to launch operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan, said home minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday, 16 May, after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti sought a ceasefire request a week ago.
“Decision [has been] taken to help the peace loving Muslims [sic] observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment,” Singh wrote on Twitter, saying he has informed Mufti about the decision.
Security forces will retaliate if attacked or “if it was essential to protect the lives of innocent people”, he said.
“[The] government expects everyone to cooperate in this initiative and help the [sic] Muslim brothers & sisters to observe Ramzan peacefully and without any difficulties,” Singh said. “It is important to isolate the forces that bring a bad name to Islam by resorting to mindless violence and terror.” Ramzan begins on Thursday.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. West Bengal Panchayat Election Results Today
The results of the West Bengal panchayat polls, which was marred by violence and repolling, take place on Thursday, 17 May.
At least 12 people lost their lives, while 43 suffered injuries in the violence on the day of poll on Monday, 14 May.
Even filing of nominations, which continued from 2 April to 9 April and then again on an extended date on 23 April, was marked by violence and clashes between the ruling TMC and Opposition parties that led to several deaths
The Opposition had accused the ruling TMC of letting loose a reign of terror during the nomination process. The TMC rubbished the allegations, saying the opposition did not have a mass base and was trying to evade the polls.
The West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) had to order repolling in 568 booths following complaints of violence during the polls.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. IMD Issues Fresh Thunderstorm Warning in Delhi-NCR, Various Parts of Country
The meteorological department has issued a weather warning of thunderstorm, squall and dust-storm at various places in the country on 16 May.
According to the advisory, a thunderstorm, accompanied by a squall, is likely at isolated places over West Bengal and Odisha.
A thunderstorm, accompanied by gusty winds, were “very likely” at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep, the advisory said.
There was a western disturbance over north Pakistan and Afghanistan and a cyclonic circulation over south-east Rajasthan and the western parts of Madhya Pradesh, it said, adding that a thunderstorm and a dust-storm were “very likely” in Rajasthan.
“Heatwave conditions very likely over some parts of West Rajasthan and in one or two pockets of East Rajasthan.”
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. VK Singh’s Visit to N Korea a First in Two Decades By Indian Min
Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs General VK Singh is on a two-day visit to North Korea (DPRK), making him the first Indian minister in two decades to visit the nation.
Singh, who flew to Pyongyang from China unannounced, is the first minister after Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to visit the country. Naqvi visited North Korea in September 1998 as the then MoS for Information & Broadcasting.
According to The Tribune, MoS Singh landed in Pyongyang on Wednesday, 15 May, and held discussions with Kim Yong Dae, Vice-President of Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Minister of Culture Pak Chun Nam and Choe Hui Chol, Vice Foreign Minister of DPRK.
Singh reportedly encouraged the two Koreas “for their efforts towards establishment of peace and prosperity” on the Peninsula.
Read the story on The Quint.
8. Loktantrik Janata Dal to Be Launched Today in New Delhi
Aiming to stitch an alliance of non-BJP parties to oust the NDA major from power and introduce politics of socialism, supporters of rebel Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav will formally launch their party, Loktantrik Janata Dal, in New Delhi on 18 May.
The party is being formed with Yadav as its “mentor”, Arun Srivastava, a leader of the rebel group, told reporters here.
The foundation convention will be held at Talkatora Stadium, where around 8,000 members of the LJD are expected to converge and Yadav will be present on the occasion, Srivastava said.
(Source: The Hindu)
9. Police to Quiz Delhi CM Kejriwal in Chief Secy 'Assault' Case
In a move which will aggravate tensions between the Centre and AAP government, Delhi Police has decided to question Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 18 May in the case of the alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash. The incident had reportedly happened at the CM’s residence.
According to Additional DCP Harendra Singh, a notice was sent to the CM on Wednesday, 16 May, and he has been asked to let them know where he would be available on 18 May.
“We have sent the notice to the Chief Minister since the incident happened in his drawing room during a meeting that was convened by him. He was also present there,” said Singh.
AAP’s Delhi chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj reacted by attacking the Prime Minister. “Petty politics of Narendra Modi is now crossing all limits and is becoming increasingly vicious. Arvind Kejriwal has been harassed by police and CBI raids during which nothing could be found.”
(Source: The Times of India)
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