Karnataka

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday announced that the core committee of the party has decided to reccommend the name of Vijayendra for the post of MLC. Yediyurappa proposed the name of Vijayendra in the core committee meeting. "We will send his name to the high command, which will take a call on the matter," Bommai stated. The development has triggered debates in the political circles as well as within the BJP.

Sources in the Congress confirmed that its state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah have already approached Priyanka Gandhi on this matter. They have reportedly explained to the Congress leader that her grandmother late Indira Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi had earlier contested elections from Karnataka and emerged victorious. While Indira Gandhi had contested from Chikkamagaluru in 1978, Sonia Gandhi contested from Ballari in 1999.

The implementation of the bill which proposes stringent measures on religious conversion activities is going to create a lot of chaos in the state. The move from the BJP in Karnataka came following Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday. The high command has also summoned Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra to Delhi, and the issue is likely to be discussed, according to party sources.

The event will be attended by former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, senior BJP leaders and core committee members. BJP leaders in the state have been exerting pressure for a quick decision on the cabinet expansion. They are stressing the fact that only about 10 months are pending for the Karnataka Assembly polls and they won't be able to do anything if more time is consumed for making decisions

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the state DG and IGP Praveen Sood made it clear on Friday that everyone should follow the law in this regard. Meanwhile, Sri Ram Sena founder Pramod Muthalik has stated that he has launched a "Azaan se Azadi" campaign in the state. He had demanded that the government should ensure implementation of the law on violation of rules while performing Azaan in mosques.

Addressing a convention organised to announce the pact between the Karnataka State Farmers' Association and AAP, Kejriwal said: "AAP is not a party of gangsters and rapists. AAP runs an honest government." Kejriwal also compared the attitude of the Centre on the now-repealed farm laws to the arrogance of Ravana, and congratulated the farmers for compelling the government to withdraw the agri laws.

According to sources in the party, the leaders are pressuring the government to initiate actions like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"I have tendered my resignation so as to not cause embarrassment to the party in connection with this case," Eshwarappa said. Santhosh K Patil, a civil contractor and local BJP leader from Belagavi, committed suicide by consuming poison on April 12 at a lodge in Udupi.

In the film, 'Rocky Bhai', played by actor Yash, does everything to become the richest man on earth to fulfil the wish of his mother. Likewise, Eshwarappa, whose parents were daily wage labourers, was motivated by his mother's wish and went on to become one of the prominent politicians of the state. Born in Bellary district, Eshwarappa's father Sharanappa and mother Basamma moved to Shivamogga in the early 1950s.

Eshwarappa had announced his resignation on Thursday evening in connection with the allegations against him in the suicide case of contractor and BJP leader Santhosh K. Patil. "I have worked as the RDPR Minister till date under CM Bommai's leadership. I have taken a decision to tender my resignation on Friday evening. I don't want to cause embarrassment to my party and party leadership," he had said.