Candlelight march held in Mysuru to raise awareness among voters

Tribals stage protest in Mysuru, demand internal reservation

The tribal leaders also teamed with Dalit activists under the banner of Karnataka Dalit Chaluvali Navanirmana Vedike as they had common grievances and each expressed solidarity to the cause of the other

Hi-tech toilet inaugurated at Town Hall in Mysuru

It has been inaugurated by Mayor Shivakumar and Dasharath, Managing Trustee of the Foundation says it costs 1.4 crore and describes it as the first precast structure in the city

Bengaluru cops detain 500 protesting auto drivers amid 24-hour strike

Protest As many as 20 auto unions called for a strike in Bengaluru over illegal bike taxi aggregators, alleging that such operations severely impact their business. Representative Over 500 auto rickshaw drivers protesting against illegal bike taxi operations in Bengaluru were detained by the police on Monday, March 20. Around 5,000 auto drivers showed up at the CAR Police Ground on Mysuru road in Bengaluru in a protest organised by the Auto and Taxi Drivers Union, even as auto drivers across the city called for a 24-hour strike. The police detained some of the protestors and released them at 5 pm on Monday. As many as 20 auto unions called for a strike in Bengaluru over illegal bike taxi aggregators, alleging that such operations severely impact their business. Many auto drivers staged a protest march from KSR Bengaluru Railway Station to the Chief Ministers official residence. They were also seen blocking the road near KR Circle in central Bengaluru. While lakhs of autos were part of the strike, many autos were seen plying on the streets. The primary demand of the protesters was to ban illegal bike taxis. Auto unions have reportedly said that a large number of bike taxi aggregators are impacting the number of rides for auto drivers, and some of them have threatened to boycott voting in the upcoming election if the operations are not banned. #WATCH | Karnataka police detain auto drivers who were protesting against the bike taxi service in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/787rRymQL2 ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2023 Read: Bengaluru auto drivers call for 24-hour strike against 'illegal' bike taxis In February, an auto driver was booked by the Bengaluru traffic police for smashing the helmet of a bike taxi driver and verbally abusing him. A video of the attack went viral and showed the auto driver smashing the Rapido bike taxi drivers helmet against the road and verbally abusing him, falsely claiming that he was an illegal migrant. Read: Bengaluru cops book auto driver after video of him verbally abusing bike taxi driver

Tipu: Seer steps in, film on Vokkaliga heroes dropped

Amid the raging controversy regarding Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, the Vokkaliga chieftains who according to a section allegedly killed erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan, a prominent seer of the community on Monday urged putting an end to the issue, citing lack of historical evidence in this regard.

Congress slams BJP for cooking up new history over Tipus death

Belagavi: Karnataka Congress on Monday came down heavily on ruling BJP leaders for creating new historical characters Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda and allegedly propagating that they killed erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. This is a distortion of history for elections. This is an insult to the Vokkaliga community, stated Congress state president D.K. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Tourism Department to develop water sports destinations and amusement park nearBengaluru

Plans include a Disney World kind of theme park somewhere around Bengaluru or Mysuru

Bengaluru-Mysuru E-Way links cities butdivides people

The Expressway, while cutting short travel time, has left many by the wayside. BENGALURU: Its been exactly a week since the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was thrown open to reduce travel time between the two cities. While the project has significantly reduced travel time, problems mar the route, which people say could have been avoided had the project been planned with vision, and toll collection be stalled till the service road is completed. TNIE travelled on the six-lane e-way, from its starting point in Bengaluru to its endpoint in Mysuru, to know what commuters feel, the road condition, service road condition, and what local residents, shopkeepers and eatery owners say. The project drew mixed reactions, with some commuters happy to cruise at over 100kmph, but felt the project had failed to address many small things. They also missed the pit stops for steaming hot local delicacies like thatte idli at Bidadi and colourful wooden toys at Channapatna. They also complained of congestion at the entry and exit points and pointed out that the e-way lacks basic amenities like toilets. Confusion, congestionat starting point Just before hitting the expressway, a traveller from Bengaluru has to pass through a congested stretch after the NICE Road junction, near the Panchamukha Ganapati Temple. Hundreds of vehicles that exit NICE Road at Kengeri take a left, and merge with the traffic coming from Bengaluru city, creating congestion. Further ahead, confused commuters slow down to check if they have to take the flyover or go below, creating a block. People who want to head to Bidadi and Ramanagara have to go below the flyover or pay the toll. Many commuters get confused, creating congestion before the e-way begins, said Subramanya, a regular on the e-way. As many commuters vented their anger against the collection of full toll fee even to reach Bidadi and Ramanagara, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has put up boards directing people heading to Bidadi and Ramanagara to take the service road, and warning that they have to pay the full toll if they take the flyover before Rajarajeshwari Medical College. Despite this, many commuters on two-wheelers and four-wheelers take the flyover, making a dangerous U-turn and heading back on the same lane to take the service road. In the absence of patrolling and highway assistance, one could see trucks and cars that had broken down, and those involved in accidents, lying on the expressway for days. The toll debate Once on the flyover, a vehicle can easily cruise at 100 kmph and reach the Kaniminike toll booth after the flyover ends. At the booth, commuters were seen arguing with the staffers, and more than 10 vehicles waiting to cross the toll gate even during non-peak hours. But, with the service road still incomplete after the toll booth, vehicles that chose to go below the flyover to avoid the toll, get onto the e-way without paying a paisa. NHAI said they are yet to construct a service road for a stretch of about 100 metres, as the matter is in the High Court. When the stay is vacated, we will complete the stretch and prevent vehicles from entering the e-way, bypassing the toll, they said. ALSO READ | E-way turns waterway for motorists in Karnataka No steam at Bidadi eateries While the e-way provides a diversion to commuters to reach Bidadi and Wonderla, there are very few who divert to savour the steaming thatte idlis . Earlier, we used to have more than 3,000 people coming to our hotel on weekends and holidays. Now, weve lost 70 per cent of our business. Except for old customers who take a deviation from the e-way, we get hardly any travellers, said Dayanand, owner of Hotel Guru in Bidadi, famed for its thatte idli . He laments that the 27-year-old hotel, which had nearly 20 staff, is downsized to five. Many hotels have pulled down shutters and hung to-let boards. Toy City deserted As the e-way bypasses the Toy City of Channapatna, many shops lie deserted. Our main customers are highway travellers. We used to do good business on weekends and holidays but dont have any customers now, said a toy shop owner. He demands that the government think about the future of artisans and shopkeepers, and make provisions for them on the e-way. Contrary to claims that the service road is for people to reach Mysuru without paying a toll, the road is incomplete and leads to dead ends. Before giving a U-turn diversion for e-way commuters to reach Channapatna, there is a railway track. Expressway users can cross the track by climbing a flyover. Those who go below hit a dead end as the service road ends at the railway track. People have to take a detour on the service road, reach Channapatna and then join the service road after travelling many kilometres, said Nanje Gowda, a local farmer. Piping hot coffee at Maddur An hour-and-a-half-long drive from Maddur to Mysuru on a weekend night with friends has been mandatory for us for the past six years. Also, we would wait for about 45 minutes for our favourite coffee there. But over the past couple of weeks, we are able to reach Maddur from Mysuru in very little time, says Abhilash, a senior tester at an MNC, who was with school friends at a caf in Maddur. Service road work in progress near Mandya. (Photo | Shashidhar Byrappa & Udayashankar S, EPS) No underpass,villagers unhappy While the BJP hopes that the project will help the party make inroads in the Old Mysuru region, there is visible displeasure against the government and NHAI authorities among villagers, especially in the Mandya and Maddur belt. They feel the authorities have failed to fulfil promises and assurances they had made. Like Siddappa, a farmer leader in Hale Budnuru village, who was struggling to cross the expressway with his livestock to reach his farmland, which is in the opposite direction. We were told the underpass which connects our houses and farmland would be finished soon. All other works are complete, even the project is inaugurated, but my struggle to cross the road with the fear of being hit by a vehicle has not ended, he said. Siddappa took nearly 15 minutes to cross the expressway. Similar complaints were raised by Yogesh, who was crossing the expressway with a few items in his hand which he had purchased for his house, currently under construction. It takes 6km for us to take a U-turn to reach the opposite direction to our village. While laying of asphalt and other work have been completed in a hurry when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was here to inaugurate the road, the underpass, which is under progress, is not completed, he said. The villagers of Hale Budnuru said the expressway connects one city to another but at the same time, divides the village as they struggle to cross from one end to another. ALSO READ | Karnataka HC seeks NHAI response on e-way toll collection on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway Entry and exit points This is just one instance of woes villagers are facing on the Maddur-Mysuru stretch of the e-way, as demands of additional underpasses, entry and exit points to villages and incomplete work on the main carriageway cause great inconvenience. It has led to serious concern on the main carriageway, with many locals riding bikes on the one-way to avoid taking long routes, risking speeding vehicles coming from opposite directions. It could lead to vehicles losing control and colliding with each other, or the bikes losing balance and toppling to avoid hitting vehicles. Work is still pending near Siddalingapura, Indavalu, where work on the service road and main stretch on the carriageway is still under construction. Though the authorities claim the six-lane expressway is completely access-controlled, a majority of covers have been damaged by villagers to gain access to the expressway. This causes vehicles to swerve into the service road before the toll booth and into villagers passing by, besides posing a disturbance to vehicles on the expressway. Highways should have emergency telephones at periodic intervals and also display emergency helplines. Highway hospitals have to be equipped to handle such emergencies. When such a project is planned, there should be provision for an ambulance bay, first-aid centres and helipads, only then will we be on par with developed countries, said Dr NK Venkataramana, founder chairman & director, Brains Super Speciality Hospital, Bengaluru. ALSO READ | NHAI barricades e-way stretch of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway for repair work Good road, fast transport The road quality seems good, and the objective of the project, which is to bring down travel time between the two cities, covering 118km within 90 minutes or less, has been served. This will help save fuel, reduce pollution and allow seamless, safer and faster inter-state travel from Karnataka to neighbouring states, besides hassle-free passenger movement. It provides fast, affordable transportation of agricultural projects and manufactured products to further boost the socioeconomic development of the region. Travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru has been considerably reduced, which is beneficial for trade, industries and the public. We require many more expressways in our state. Toll payment has commenced without proper development of service roads, which is very essential. It is suggested that toll charges be collected only after paving the way for districts and townships between Bengaluru and Mysuru, said B V Gopal Reddy, President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He also raised concern over trade and industry being affected by the toll, as the service road is not complete, and feared it would escalate prices. Crime on the expressway Another major concern is that of crime in recent times. Two couples from Mysuru were robbed at knife-point on the expressway. More CCTVs, including AI-installed features, can bring down the crime rate, as the organised syndicate can avoid taking chances on the road stretch. It can detect traffic violations and overspeeding, and serve notices to them. What it needs Though the six-lane expressway is all set, stretches of road where work is pending, including the service roads, should be finished at the earliest to achieve its full benefit. The main focus now should also be on providing wayside amenities, including proper toilets, fuel stations, food courts, parking spaces for vehicles, SOS and proper functioning of helplines, which were found dysfunctional during a check by TNIE. Commuters want congestion at the entry and exits of the e-way to be addressed. Though Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has assured that roadside amenities will be provided at 23 places, they must be installed within the next six months, with the focus on artists and artisans to display and sell their handicrafts, handlooms, silks, wood carvings, furniture and sandalwood products.

Satheesh, father of millet revolution in Telangana, passes away

Satheesh, along with a few like-minded friends, founded the DDS in Zaheerabad and started working to uplift women from the most marginalised sections in the villages. HYDERABAD: PV Satheesh, who was known as the father of the millet revolution in Telangana and one of the founding members of the Deccan Development Society (DDS), passed away after a prolonged illness on Sunday morning. He was 77. His final rites will be held in Pasthapur village near Zaheerabad at 10.30 am on Monday. PV Satheesh A journalist, social worker, community organiser and a champion of biodiversity, food systems, food sovereignty, women empowerment, social justice, local knowledge systems, community media and participatory development, Satheesh worked tirelessly to not only protect indigenous crop varieties from extinction, but also empowered thousands of women farmers of Zaheerabad to become the torchbearers of his ideas and ideals. Born on June 18, 1945 in Mysuru, Satheesh did his graduation from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, and worked as a television producer for two decades for Doordarshan, producing programmes related to rural development and rural literacy in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. He played an important role in the historical Satellite Instructional Television Experiment in the 1980s. Satheesh, along with a few like-minded friends, founded the DDS in Zaheerabad and started working to uplift women from the most marginalised sections in the villages. Forming womens collectives in around 75 villages in Zaheerabad, Jharasangam and Nyalkal mandals, training Dalit women to run community radio, filmmaking, seed banks, growing millets, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic herbs, running an all-millet restaurant, and providing farm-to-kitchen market for the produce of the women farmers, were just of his achievements as a social worker in the last four decades. Satheesh led several national and international networks like Millet Network of India (MINI), South Against Genetic Engineering (SAGE), AP Coalition in Defence of Diversity, and was also the India coordinator for SANFEC, the South Asian Network for Food, Ecology and Culture. He was recently honoured by RRA Network for his lifetime contributions in making millets a peoples agenda.Satheesh is survived by his daughter Mayuri, whom he had adopted when she was in her primary school.

Rahul in Belagavi today, will unveil job guarantee scheme for youth

Central govt has failed to provide jobs, destroyed Brand Karnataka, says Surjewala. BELAGAVI: Former AICC president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will unveil a job guarantee programme for the youth at the Yuva Kranti Rally in Belagavi on March 20, AICC general secretary and party Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said on Sunday. Surjewala reviewed the preparations for the rally to be held at CPED Grounds here. Rahul Gandhi AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge will also address the rally. There is immense talent among the youth of Karnataka... but the Bommai government has done nothing. The 40% commission government has destroyed the dreams of the youth. Rahul will also address the youth. He will unveil the job guarantee programme for the youth and declare the future plans of the Congress after returning to power in Karnataka. Congress has plans to expand these plans across the country in the coming years, he added. Hitting out at the Union Government, the Congress leader said, The Modi government had promised to create 2 crore jobs each year, but failed to deliver on the promise cheating the youth. The BJP government in Karnataka has damaged Brand Karnataka. Karnataka, once known as a peaceful state, attracted investments to Bengaluru and Mysuru. But investors have now lost faith because of the BJP government. Business giants like Foxconn and Ola shifted to Telangana. The government is selling government jobs for money. ALSO READ | Congresss Iqbal may face Nikhil in Ramanagara He further lashed out at the Bommai government for forgetting to spend Rs 41, 942 crore funds in five years meant for welfare programmes. He termed the State Government as anti-Kannada and anti-development. In the recent statement by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma over the closure of madrasas, he said, I have known him for the last 40 years. He is making such statements to be in the limelight and get identified on the lines of Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath. There is no need to take his statements seriously. Mondays visit to Karnataka is Rahuls first visit to the state since his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Congress faces a challenge to counter BJPs blitzkrieg

As the poll dates are expected to be announced anytime now, the BJPs well-oiled election machinery is executing its plan perfectly to control the poll narrative. As the poll dates are expected to be announced anytime now, the BJPs well-oiled election machinery is executing its plan perfectly to control the poll narrative. The Congress, which looked to be in the drivers seat a few months ago, now faces the tough task of matching the BJPs blitzkrieg and deftly handling the tricky job of ticket distribution. For Congress and its president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka offers a glimmer of hope. But that comes with considerable challenges. Congress enjoys a good support base at the grassroots level in Karnataka. Winning the state will be crucial for reviving the party at the national level as the grouping of regional parties looks to occupy the anti-BJP pole by elbowing out Congress. State polls are a litmus test for Kharges leadership. A victory in his home state will help him to assert his authority in the party ahead of the 2024 polls. The failure to do so may raise questions over Congress and its leaderships ability to fight BJP in the LS polls. The Grand Old Party is hoping to stop BJPs efforts to buck the trend to return to power. But its candidates have to largely depend on the support the party enjoys at the grassroots level and their rapport with voters to defeat BJPs formidable election fighting machinery. Many BJP leaders, including ministers, admit that there is an anti-incumbency sentiment against the government and they are making efforts to overcome it. But Congress high-decibel campaigns to encash the anti-incumbency factor were not sustained till they reached voters across the state and fell short of driving home their message. They could hardly sustain even an issue like the ruling party MLAs son being found with around Rs 8 crore cash by the Lokayukta. It looks as if Congress peaked a little early and it now faces the Herculean task of sustaining its momentum. For now, its focus seems to be handling the all-important task of ticket distribution. After sifting through the details of internal surveys, reports from in-house experts, and feedback from local leaders, the party is said to have finalised its first list of candidates which will be announced soon. However, finalising candidates in seats with more than one strong contender will pose a real test to the leadership. That would cause heartburn among those who fail to make it and even result in rebellion, if not handled well. Congress as well as BJP face such a situation in many constituencies. The party insiders hope that Kharge, who knows all 224 constituencies and local equations like the back of his hand, will be able to deal with the challenge in the best possible manner. After Kharge took over as AICC president, the party has been able to put a lid on the public debate over Congress chief ministerial candidate. But one cannot rule out the possibility of that playing out subtly in many constituencies, impacting the partys overall prospects. The party seems to be banking on the guarantee schemes; Rs 2000 to women heads of households, up to 200 units of free power and 10 kg rice to BPL families. Former AICC president Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting Karnataka on Monday for the first time after the Bharat Jodo Yatra that got a good response in the state, is also likely to announce a similar scheme for the youth. The Congress largely depends on state Congress president DK Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah to spearhead its campaign, unlike BJP which deployed 45 national leaders during its ongoing Vijay Sankalpa Yatra. Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states and many Union ministers are crisscrossing the state with their aggressive campaigns to woo voters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda are frequently visiting the state. The PMs roadshow in Mandya helped to generate good optics for the BJP which is trying hard to make inroads into the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region. The party leaders also believe that independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh extending support to BJP will help its candidates. However, it is still not clear if the BJP leaders big rallies and independent MPs support will make much of a difference for the party in the region, a stronghold of Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress. Many constituencies are likely to witness a triangular fight, which is a good sign for BJP. As the campaigning enters a crucial stage, the political parties are all set to go into overdrive. Ramu Patil Associate Editor ramu@newindianexpress.com

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway turns into a corridor of political slugfest

The access-controlled state of the art Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway has become a venue for a political battle between BJP and the two opposition parties ahead of assembly elections in Karnataka.

Save Farooqia demonstration held in Mysuru

Mysuru Briefly - The Hindu

Mysuru Briefly The Hindu

Karantaka: BJP raises poll pitch in Old Mysuru with ambition to regain power

Bengaluru: With Assembly elections round the corner, the BJP is focused on the Old Mysuru region, where significant electoral gains are seen to be crucial for the party to come back to power in Karnataka on its own. For decades, the BJP has struggled to spread its wings in the Vokkaliga community-dominated Old Mysuru region, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

WATCH | Bengaluru-Mysuru highway inaugurated by PM Modi flooded in 6 days

Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway, inaugurated by PM Modi on March 12 got flooded owing to heavy rainfall. Angry commuters took to micro-blogging site Twitter to express their angst.The highway was inaugurated along with multiple other projects in the poll-bound state.

BJP Raises Poll Pitch in Old Mysuru Region, Key to Its Ambition to Regain Power in Karnataka

For decades, the BJP has struggled to spread its wings in the Vokkaliga community-dominated Old Mysuru region, with the well entrenched JD(S) and Congress holding sway

Karnataka elections: BJP raises poll pitch in Old Mysuru region, key to regain power in state

The Prime Minister visited Mandya recently to launch a slew of projects including the most ambitious one -- Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. BENGALURU: With Assembly elections round the corner, the BJP is focused on the Old Mysuru region, where significant electoral gains are seen to be crucial for the party to come back to power in Karnataka on its own. For decades, the BJP has struggled to spread its wings in the Vokkaliga community-dominated Old Mysuru region, with the well-entrenched JD(S) and Congress holding sway. The region comprises Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Kolar, Tumakuru and Hassan districts. JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) D K Shivakumar belong to this community. Among the 58 Assembly seats in these districts, JD(S) represents 24, Congress 18 and BJP 15. BJP also has the backing of expelled BSP MLA N Mahesh, who represents Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district. In the Vokkaliga heartland of Mandya district, the JD(S) has six out of seven MLAs, three of four MLAs in Ramanagara and six of the seven seats in Hassan. The JD(S) has four out of 11 seats in Mysuru, whereas the Congress has four and BJP three in this district. The regional party also has three seats in Tumakuru but the party is wary about the Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas who allegedly voted in favour of the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections in June last year. The BJP top brass has acknowledged that improving the electoral tally in this region is key to regaining power on its own steam. The party came to power in Karnataka four times and every time it emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark. Twice, the party had to allegedly resort to 'Operation Lotus' to woo disgruntled opposition members and form a majority government. The BJP, however, put up an impressive show in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning 25 of the 28 seats. Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh won from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency and JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna emerged victorious in Hassan. To BJP's comfort, the party-backed independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh won from the Mandya constituency, which had always been a JD(S) citadel. The actor-turned-politician Sumalatha who defeated Deve Gowda's grandson and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, extended her 'full support' to the BJP on March 11, a day ahead of Prime Minister's visit to Mandya to launch a slew of projects including the most ambitious one --Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. The inauguration could have been done either in Mysuru or Bengaluru, but the Prime Minister opted for Mandya. The voters of Mandya hardly get carried away by emotional issues, a political analyst said. The JD(S) suffered a blow when the KR Pet MLA K C Narayana Gowda ditched the party during Operation Lotus in 2019 and was among the MLAs who resigned from the Assembly, joined the BJP and successfully contested the by-election on a BJP ticket and became a minister. With this, the BJP got its first legislator from the JD(S) citadel, Mandya.

'Villagers Blocked The Drain': Government On Flooding Of New Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

The government claims that part of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway flooded because the villagers blocked the drains near the Ramanagara stretch of the e-way.

Why is Tipu Sultan a Burning Poll Issue? Explained as Karnataka Film Stirs Up Row

Explained: A section in the old Mysuru belt claims that Tipu did not die fighting the British, but was killed by two Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda

Confusion continues as Rahul asks Siddu to fight from Varuna

Siddaramaiah could backtrack from Kolar as there are indications that his opponents from JDS, BJP and also from within Congress are hatching plots to defeat him, the sources said. BENGALURU:The confusion over Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah picking a safe seat for the Assembly elections continued as it has emerged that he is unlikely to contest from Kolar after he was advised by party senior leader Rahul Gandhi to give it a second thought. Rahul, it is said, got the information from Sunil Kanugol, Congress strategist for the Karnataka Assembly polls, that Kolar would be a tough bet for Siddaramaiah and he has to toil hard and invest a lot of time there. It was also discussed at the Congress Election Committee meeting chaired by AICC president Mallikarjuna M Kharge in New Delhi on Friday evening. Still, the final decision of choosing a constituency was left to Siddaramaiah. Soon after the CEC meeting, Rahul spoke to Siddaramaiah personally for about ten minutes. That was when he asked Siddaramaiah to consider contesting from the Varuna seat which will allow him time for other constituencies. Siddaramaiah has discussed it with his close set of confidantes, the sources added. Siddaramaiah later told the media, The CEC has not cleared the Assembly constituency that I am going to contest from. I have left it to the party high command. On Saturday, MLCs Anil Kumar, Nazeer Ahmed and former minister MR Seetharam met Siddaramaiah at his residence on Saturday, insisting that he contest from Kolar. But Siddarmaiah told them that he will go by the high commands decision and also hinted that he could opt for Varuna in Mysuru, the sources said. His son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who represents the seat now, has said a number of times that he is willing to sacrifice the seat for his father. Siddaramaiah could backtrack from Kolar as there are indications that his opponents from JDS, BJP and also from within Congress are hatching plots to defeat him, the sources said. Recently, a group of Dalits launched an open campaign against him. JDS senior leader HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday said that whether Siddaramaiahs contests from Kolar or not, JDS has an edge as it is the party bastion. For over six months, talks of a safe seat for Siddaramaiah have been going on. It is unwarranted. Is it a testimony of him having lost his strength as a leader, he asked. Siddu cancels visit to Kolar Kolar: The proposed tour of Siddaramiah to Kolar on March 19 and 21 has been postponed, said MLC Anil Kumar. He has also cancelled all programmes across the state till April 1, Anil added. Party workers and leaders have already started campaigning for Siddaramaiah and the response has been good in all parts of the constituency, he said.

US girl who got MBBS posing as Indian to go home

She came to India in 2003 on a tourist visa for six months from the US, when she was six years old. BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court has shown a degree of leniency towards a 26-year-old MBBS graduate who falsely declared her nationality as Indian to avail of a government medical seat to complete her course. The court, while restraining the authorities from taking any strict action against her as she was a student, directed the recovery of all the fees from her to be paid for all five years of the MBBS course at the rate to be charged for NRI/Overseas Citizen of India The MBBS graduate, Dr Bhanu C Ramachandran, completed her schooling and college, and then her medical degree in India by availing a seat under government quota by falsely declaring her nationality as Indian in the state although she was overstaying in the country. She came to India in 2003 on a tourist visa for six months from the US, when she was six years old. Now, as Dr Bhanu, residing at Lakshmipuram in Mysuru, has sought to pursue a further career in the US based on the MBBS degree acquired in India, the court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Officer to issue an exit permit to her only on receiving a No Objection Certificate from the state government on payment of the fee as per the court directions. Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order while partly allowing the petition filed by Dr Bhanu seeking directions to the authorities to issue an exit permit and restraining them from initiating any action against her for alleged violation of Section 4 of the Citizenship Act or Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. Students act snatched Indians career The petitioner has shamelessly resorted to falsehood and achieved her goals by unethical means. Curious enough, the petitioner is not even wanting to pursue her career in this country, having secured benefits throughout her career contending that she is an Indian. But she is a student, who would not be aware of the consequences of law or breach and falsehood. Therefore, this court would direct the Union of India and Bureau of Immigration, to hold their coercive arm of the law to be stretched upon the petitioner in the peculiar facts of this case, subject to the condition that the petitioner would pay all the fees, taking a lenient view of the matter, the court observed. The court further observed that the conduct of the petitioner misrepresenting herself to be an Indian, had snatched away the career of an Indian. In this circumstance, if the petitioner is left off the hook without any condition, it would be putting a premium on the misrepresentation that she made throughout herself to be an Indian citizen, the court added. Dr Bhanus parents were citizens of India, and residents in the US, and her birth there was registered before the Indian Embassy in the US. Her mother was a single parent when she came to India on a tourist Visa in June 2003. A naturalised citizen of the US, she did not renounce her citizenship or the nationality of the US after becoming a major. She filed an application before the Bureau of Immigration for a grant of exit permit for further studies in the US, which was refused due to an unauthorised stay in India.

JD(S) MLA S R Mahesh withdraws his complaint against Rohini Sindhuri

Six-and-a-half months after former minister and JD(S) MLA S R Mahesh filed a defamation lawsuit against former Mysuru DC Rohini Sindhuri, the legislator withdrew the petition on Saturday. The city court has dismissed the petition as not pressed.

Creating support systems for startups in Mysuru: Minister CN Ashwath Narayan

Higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayan launched Mysuru Cluster Seed Fund, Mysuru Global Technology Centre (MGTC), and Karnataka Accelerator Network (KAN) on Saturday.

Brahmins forum stages stir in Mysuru

Members of the Brahamana Yuva Vedike district unit took out a postcard campaign near Ramaswamy Circle here on Saturday demanding that the revenue department issue income/caste certificates to avail 10% economically weaker section quota throughout their life instead of restricting the benefits for a limited period.

Overnight rainfall leaves Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway flooded

The newly inaugurated 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway saw intense waterlogging in the early hours of Saturday due to the night-long thundershowers, causing major disruption to weekend traffic between the two cities due to the marooned expressway near Sangabasavanadoddi village, about 12 km from Ramanagara towards Bengaluru.

CM assures Kodagu a place onthe international tourism map

Projects totalling Rs 2000 crore were inaugurated by the CM at a ceremony in Madikeri, which was attended by beneficiaries of the district. MADIKERI: Kodagu will be included in the international tourism map and plans are in place to ensure the same, said Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai in Madikeri. He declared to extend free electricity to the irrigation pump sets, of up to 10 HP, installed across coffee estates in Kodagu. Inaugurating various projects at a ceremony in Gandhi Maidan, he said, Rs 100 crore has been released to the district under a special package in the state budget. Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the Kodava-speaking community. The state has also granted seven acres of land to the Kodava community in Bengaluru. Projects totalling Rs 2000 crore were inaugurated at the ceremony which was attended by beneficiaries of the district. The Chief Minister said that plans are being laid out to put Kodagu on the international tourism maps. A plan similar to Mysuru Tourism Circuit will take shape in Kodagu shortly, he confirmed. ALSO READ | Congress guarantee card just a visiting card: CM Bommai He opined that the district has received increased funds from the central and state governments. This year, Rs 132 crore has been released as compensation amount to the farmers of Kodagu, he said.He explained that the state government is working towards the overall development of all the communities. Various schemes including the Kisan Samman Yojana have recorded successful implementation. Scholarships have been released to the children of the farmers, who are the nation's strength. The work of the BJP government is speaking for itself, he said. He explained the various projects aimed at empowering women and called the guarantee card scheme of the Congress a bluff. One can cheat someone a few times. But they cannot cheat people all the time. The guarantee card is bogus and is similar to a visiting card, he mocked. ALSO READ | Need for BSY in politics greater than ever before, says Bommai Handing over cheques to a few beneficiaries of the government schemes at the ceremony, he sought the support of the people for the BJP. While the congregation with the beneficiaries had to be inaugurated by CM at 11.30 am on Saturday, the same was delayed as Bommai arrived in the district by 3.00 pm. He, however, apologised stating that the visit was delayed due to the ongoing PUC examination at the college located close to the function venue.

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway inaugurated by PM Modi recently gets waterlogged in pre-monsoon showers

Portions of Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway inundated due to pre-monsoon showers. The expressway was inaugurated by PM Modi a few days ago and some parts of the expressway got waterlogged following the rains. Netizens shared videos of the waterlogged expressway at Ramanagara and expressed concerns over the design and construction quality of the key road project. The 118 km long Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway was built at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore.

Mishap victim saves five lives by donating his organs

Anil Kumar had met with a road accident in Mysuru and was declared brain dead

Mysuru Cluster Seed Fund to promote start-ups launched

3,000 seater high-quality plug-and-play office infrastructure comes up at Mysuru Global Technology Centre at Mandakalli; 25 cr. seed fund to boost innovations in Beyond Bengaluru clusters

Days after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway waterlogged post minor rain spell - Business Today

Days after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway waterlogged post minor rain spell Business Today

Days after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway waterlogged post minor rain spell

Built at a cost of Rs 8,480 crore, the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway has been constructed to reduce the travel time between the two cities from around three hours to 75 minutes. However, commuters were disappointed after a minor spell of rain in the Bengaluru-Ramanagara region left many spots on the expressway waterlogged.

Beyond Bengaluru: Karnataka launches Mysuru seed fund, technology centre

The Rs 25-crore Mysuru cluster seed fund is expected to benefit 70-80 startups in that region, while Karnataka Accelerator Network is expected to address the challenges involved in the startup journey

Bengaluru News Live Updates: Less than a week after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded after rains - The Indian Express

Bengaluru News Live Updates: Less than a week after inauguration by PM Modi, Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded after rains The Indian Express

Newly inaugurated Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway waterlogged again after heavy rain

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway This is the third time the expressway has experienced waterlogging. Last August, heavy rainfall caused flooding when the expressway was still under construction, and it was flooded again in October. Twitter Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging on the recently inaugurated Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway on Saturday, March 18, raising concerns about the quality of the 119-kilometre-long road. Visuals of the flooding went viral on social media platforms with citizens criticising the government for shoddy work. The expressway was inaugurated just six days earlier on March 12, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which cost Rs 8,480 crore, aims to reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru to just 75 minutes, compared to the three hours it previously took. However, this is the third time the expressway has experienced waterlogging. Last August, heavy rainfall caused flooding when the expressway was still under construction, and it was flooded again in October. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began collecting toll on the expressway on March 14, which led to protests from political parties for collecting it without the completion of work. The Congress party had also raised concerns about the expressway's inauguration without adequate flood control measures, especially when the road work was still incomplete. First summer showers of the season has exposed quality & planning of Bengaluru - Mysuru expressway. Water logging reported at multiple places. Last year the highway had seen massive flooding when it was being constructed, NHAI had promised to fix it. #BengaluruMysuruExpressway pic.twitter.com/2uuscSCtCh Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) March 18, 2023 Light summer showers have exposed the quality of the #BengaluruMysuruExpressway. Light rains on Friday night have resulted in the flooding of parts of the expressway. Visuals from #Ramanagara. #News9SouthDesk #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/s4cZy4rGHD Prajwal D'Souza (@prajwaldza) March 18, 2023 Days after its Inauguration by @narendramodi the planning of the #BengaluruMysuruExpressway stands exposed. Waterlogging reported at Multiple places near Ramnagara after a small spell of rain leading to accidents at the expressway. pic.twitter.com/MnuawPlJXx Akshara D M (@Aksharadm6) March 18, 2023

Watch: Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded after rains, video goes viral

The stretch of Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway near Ramanagara was waterlogged after moderate rains and this created a lot of trouble for the commuters.

Stretch of Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded again after rain, vehicle movement disrupted

Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway launched by PM Modi 6 days ago now flooded

The Bengaluru-Mysuru highway in Karnataka, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six days ago, was inundated on Friday night after heavy rains in the states Ramanagara region. The expressway road, which cost Rs. 8,480 crore, became flooded near the Ramanagara district of Bengaluru. The water remained stagnant in the highway underbridge, resulting in a series Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway turns into lake after heavy rains batter Karnataka

BengaluruMysuru Expressway turns into lake after heavy rains batter Karnataka

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway flooded due to excessive rain in Ramanagara, commuterslashout

Due to heavy rainfall, the recently inaugurated Bengaluru-Mysuru highway by PM Modi flooded with water in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka.

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway Stays in Focus: After Protests, Damage, Road Waterlogged Post Light Rain

In the aftermath of a minor spell of rain in the Bengaluru-Ramanagara region, multiple spots on the expressway were waterlogged, posing a threat to commuters taking the route

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, Inaugurated By PM 6 Days Ago, Flooded After Rains

The water remained stagnant in the underbridge on the highway, leading to a series of bumper-to-bumper accidents that resulted in slow-moving vehicles and long periods of traffic jams on the highway.

Congress clears 124 names; 1st list may be out after Rahuls visit

Most father-children combos may get nod; Another list when poll nears; Accommodating turncoats also discussed BENGALURU:The Congress Election Committee (CEC), chaired by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, held its maiden meeting in New Delhi on Friday and cleared the names of 124 candidates for the Assembly polls in Karnataka. Almost all the 71 sitting MLAs and single names proposed by the screening committee headed by Mohan Prakash have been cleared, while those who lost the 2018 Assembly polls by a narrow margin have been given nod. Most father-children combinations too have got the green signal and their names are likely to figure in the first list. Enough hint on this was given by KPCC president DK Shivakumar, who said, Fathers, sons and daughters are there in all parties. But the first list may be released after Congress leader Rahul Gandhis scheduled visit to Belagavi on Monday or after Ugadi on Wednesday. After a three-hour meeting at the AICC headquarters, the leaders shifted to Kharges official residence for another round of deliberations. Accommodating turncoats who are ready to join the party at the last minute was also discussed, a source said. The CEC, however, has cleared the names of certain candidates, including that of Darshan, the son of former LS member Dhruvanaryan who died recently, for the Nanjanagudu seat in Mysuru district, Mulbagal MLA Nagesh and also Hoskote MLA Sharat Bachegowda, who had won as independent MLAs and joined Congress, sources said. Children of most veteran politicians, including former Union minister KH Muniyappas daughter and KGF MLA Roopakala Shashidhar, former minister H C Mahadevappas son Sunil Bose from T Narasipura Assembly seat, CLP leader Siddarmaiahs son Dr Yathindra, who is Varuna MLA, Mallikarjuna Kharges son Priyank Kharge, Chittapur MLA and former minister Motammas daughter Nayana Jawhar are likely to feature in the first list. The meeting discussed offering the CV Raman Nagar seat to HC Mahadevappa and Mahadevapura or Pulikeshinagara in Bengaluru to former deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara if he feels Koratagere is still difficult for him to tackle. This is part of the partys strategy to win more seats from Bengaluru. Muniyappa is likely to get the Devanahalli ticket, the sources said. The Pulikeshinagar seat, represented by Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, has not been declared as minorities have opposed his nomination, a source informed TNIE. Dr MC Sudhakar for Chintamani, Subbareddy for Bagepalli, Shivashankar Reddy for Gauribidanuru, Ramesh Kumar from Srinivasapura and S Narayanaswamy from Bangarpet too have been cleared, the sources said. Playing on the caste equation, the leaders also discussed the probability of letting in Hiriyur BJP MLA Poornima Srinivas, daughter of former minister late A Krishnappa, who hails from the Golla community, the sources said. Screening Committee chief Mohan Prakash, Rahul Gandhi and other leaders took part in the meeting. The candidates for the remaining 99-100 seats including those that have multiple aspirants would be cleared when the polls near to quell rebellion, they added.

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, Opened By PM 6 Days Ago, Flooded After Rains

The water remained stagnant in the underbridge on the highway, leading to a series of bumper-to-bumper accidents that resulted in slow-moving vehicles and long periods of traffic jams on the highway.

Mega textile parkin Kalaburagi willemploy 1 lakh people

According to sources, the PM will flag off all the 7 PM MITRA Textile Parks at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on March 24. KALABURAGI:With Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing that PM MITRA Mega Textile Parks will come up in seven cities across the country, the decks have been cleared for establishing a textile park in Kalaburagi. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said apart from boosting the textiles sector in line with the 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision, it will also benefit the local ancillary industries. Over 1 lakh people will get direct employment from this mega textile park, Kalaburagi MP Dr Umesh Jadhav told The New Indian Express. According to sources, the PM will flag off all the 7 PM MITRA Textile Parks at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on March 24. Kalaburagi has the necessary infrastructure for the establishment of the park. The government had long back acquired 1,560 acres at Honna Kiranagi and Nadisinnur villages for the establishment of a thermal power plant. However, the proposal was dropped and it was proposed to establish a solar park there. After deciding to establish a textile park in Kalaburagi, but before sending a proposal to the Union government, 1,000 acres of the land was transferred to the Karnataka Industrial Development Board, which is the agency to develop the infrastructure facilities for the textile park. There were doubts regarding the establishment of the park in Kalaburagi as leaders of the ruling party were competing to get it in their respective district, or in the area of their preference. The then BS Yediyurappa government had sent a proposal to the Centre for the establishment of a textile park in Mysuru, Tumakuru, Raichur, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi. On October 13, 2021, the Basavaraj Bommai government sent a proposal to the Union government requesting setting up of a park in Kalaburagi, Tumakuru and Vijayapura. Commerce and Industry Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey wrote to the secretary to the Union Ministry of Textiles on March 8, 2022, requesting to accord in-principle approval for setting up of PM MITRA parks in Kalaburagi and Vijayapura. The Kalaburagi MP had insisted on having the park in his constituency.

BJP MLC H Vishwanath protests over high toll rates on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

BJP MLC H Vishwanath staged a protest in Mysuru on March 17. The protest was over high toll rates on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. A large number of people gathered to protest.BJP MLC H Vishwanath said, Today, the organisations of all the sections of society assembled here near the Toll gate.

Tribals in Mysuru to mobilise themselves ahead of elections

'Looking for Perfection in Imperfect World': K'taka DGP's 'Plea' to Drivers on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

Praveen Sood called the newly inaugurated expressway a 'fantastic piece of infrastructure' but said the need of the hour is to be to a 'sensitive, sober and sensible' driver and avoid overspeeding

BJP MLC says toll for Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, is exorbitant

The toll from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta is 135 for cars

Bengaluru may see sporadic rain till Sunday

According to Indian Meteorological Department officials, probability of scattered rainfall in Bengaluru is only 50 per cent. BENGALURU:Bengaluru witnessed light rainfall on Thursday which is likely to continue till Sunday due to a low-pressure area from Southern Tamil Nadu to the Konkan coast that has impacted South Interior Karnataka and increased the relative humidity in Bengaluru to above 50 per cent. According to Indian Meteorological Department officials, the probability of scattered rainfall in Bengaluru is only 50 per cent. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said that on Wednesday, Belagavi, Dharwad, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts saw rainfall. Several parts of these districts received heavy rainfall. Maximum rainfall was recorded at Raibag of Belagavi district at 68.5mm. Bengaluru on Wednesday saw a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 19. On Thursday, the maximum temperature was 33.0 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 21.7.

Congress guarantee card just a visiting card: CMBommai

Says people of the state will dump it in dustbins & seeking votes on the basis of religion and caste is old-fashioned MANGALURU:Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday ridiculed Congress guarantee cards to visiting cards of marketing executives and said that people will dump it in dustbins.Implementing one scheme of giving Rs 2,000 toevery woman head of households each month alone will require Rs 24,000 crore. This will leave no money for other schemes, the CM said while addressing a convention of beneficiaries of various schemes and programmes of Central and State governments in Mangaluru. Calling it meaningless, Bommai said that while power consumption of an average household is 70 units, Congress has promised 200 units of free power. He also ridiculed the rice guarantee scheme of the Congress stating that the previous Congress government reduced the rice quota. Bommai used former PM Rajiv Gandhis famous remark that only 15 paise of every Rupee meant for welfare of the downtrodden reaches them, to hit back at the Congress which has accused his government of 40% commission. The previous UPA was an 85% government. Rajiv Gandhi himself has said that, he said referring to Rajivs comment made 38 years ago. Without naming Congress or Siddaramaiah, he said those who made big speeches about social justice only used people to get positions for themselves. He said his government was really concerned for Dalits and hence increased reservation. They warned me not to touch the issue stating its like a beehive. But I went ahead, he said. Bommai claimed that the schemes and programmes of the double-engine government have reached a large section of society. We have not introduced these schemes for the sake of publicity or have put up huge hoardings like Congress. The benefit is reaching directly to the account of the beneficiaries even without their knowledge through DBT. There are no middlemen, he said. Further, he said that seeking votes on the basis of religion and caste is old-fashioned. For a democracy to survive, the governments have to be responsive to peoples problems. People should also support the government which responds to their problems. Food, shelter, clothing, health and education is the common requirement of people and welfare of the society happens when it is provided, he said. On a request by Fisheries Minister S Angara, the CM said that the bonus for rubber tappers in Sullia of Dakshina Kannada district will be increased from 8% to 20% through the Karnataka Forest Development Corporation. Meanwhile, CM Bommai lost his cool when he saw BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath indulging in cross-talk during the formers speech and reprimanded him. The clipping of the video has gone viral. 10L to attend Dgere BJP rally, PM to be present Nearly 10 lakh people are expected to attend the partys mega rally to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Davanagere on March 25. BJP state general secretary and MLC N Ravi Kumar said the mega rally will mark the culmination of the ongoing Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra. Speaking to media persons, the MLC said 45 national leaders, including Union Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda and 335 state leaders have taken part in the campaign that covered 151 Assembly segments. As of now, they have held 110 roadshows and 41 public functions. It will cover all 224 constituencies by March 21. The yatra has received a good response in Mandya, Kolar, and across the state. Around 60 lakh people have taken part in the yatra, he said. The purpose of the yatra was to strengthen the party where it required to be strengthened and it has served the purpose well, he said. Double-engine govt driving Ktakas progress: Chouhan Hosapete: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Karnataka counterpart Basavaraj Bommai for the double-engine thrust to development. During BJPs Vijay Sankalp Yatra in Hosapate on Thursday, Chouhan said wherever there are double-engine governments, there has been rapid development. When it comes to Karnataka, its progressing in all four directions, he said. Modi and Bommai are giving free ration to people. BJP means Vikas (progress) and Congress means Vinash (destruction), he said. He said there is a rift in KPCC between the camps of KPCC president DK Shivakumar and CLP leader Siddaramaiah. Recently, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had an umbrella while AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge was denied one, which is a shame for Karnataka, he said. In the upcoming Assembly elections, BJP will certainly come back to power, and in 2024, Modi will be re-elected as prime minister, he added. ENS Smriti tears into Rahul Gadag: Union Minister Smriti Irani took the Congress to task and said its leader Rahul Gandhi talks ill about India and her thriving democracy on foreign soil. She was addressing the BJPs Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra here on Thursday. We, in BJP, consider India as our mother. Her soil is precious to us. I have come here urging you to make Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra a success. BJP always asks people to worship India... but the Congress asks foreigners to attack us. If Congress workers love India, they should oppose Rahul, she added. Hundreds of bike riders participated in the rally. ENS Trying our best to start work on Ram temple, says Minister Mysuru: The State Government has decided to startwork on the construction of a Ram temple atop the Ramdevarabetta near Ramanagara. Higher Education Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said that the authorities have been directed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project and are also keen on performing a ground-breaking ceremony before the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. Hesaid that many, including Kempegowda, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, and others have visited the hill shrine and offered seva. We are in a hurry and will implement the project, he said. ENS

Lingayats jockey for more seats in South Karnataka

The community has said it should also be considered in Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar, Krishnaraja in Mysuru and Madikeri-Somwarpet in Kodagu. BENGALURU: With the Congress expected to announce its list of candidates soon, the partys Lingayat leaders All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha president and MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa and former PCC president Allum Veerabhadrappa called on AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, urging him to consider giving more tickets to Lingayats. A few weeks ago, Lingayat leaders had held a meeting in Bengaluru, to demand more tickets for the community, not only in North Karnataka but in the southern region too, and had apprised the leadership of this demand. Lingayats make up over 16 per cent of the voters in Karnataka. They are jockeying for better representation in about 100 constituencies in South Karnataka, and are demanding at least 10 more seats in this region. They also demanded that one or two seats be given to Lingayats in Bengaluru city, which has 28 seats, besides giving tickets in all districts in the South -- Tiptur and Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumakuru, besides one or two seats in Kolar, Hassan, Chikkaballapur, Mandya, Ramanagara and Bangalore Rural. The community has said it should also be considered in Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar, Krishnaraja in Mysuru and Madikeri-Somwarpet in Kodagu. With CLP leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC chief D K Shivakumar and the screening committee working on the final list, the Lingayat leadership urged Kharge to give proper representation. Kharge heard them out and told them he would first wait for the screening committee to prepare the list and then make any suggestions. All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha secretary Renuka Prasanna said, It is for the Congress to understand that if it needs to win, it needs Lingayat votes. We respect all sections of society and will give adequate representation to all. We have our yardsticks for choosing candidates, like winnability, and will apply them to all, Shivakumar said. Analysing this development, political analyst BS Murthy said, The Congress is seeing a crack in the Lingayat vote for the first time in about 20 years, and hopes to corner a good number of votes. The party can sense the community is not solidly behind the BJP and is hoping to cash in on the Lingayat disenchantment.The Congress, which is expected to give about 44-45 seats to Lingayats, may not be able to match the over 60 seats the BJP is likely to offer the community.

BSP in talks with SDPI, KRRS for alliance

In the 2018 assembly polls, BSP was in alliance with JD(S) and contested in 20 seats, but won only in Kollegal (SC) assembly constituency. MYSURU:The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has decided to contest in all 224 Assembly constituencies in the forthcoming polls, is in talks with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) to jointly fight the three prominent parties in the state, BJP, Congress and JD(S). It is also seeking the support of progressive organisations across the state. In the 2018 assembly polls, BSP was in alliance with JD(S) and contested in 20 seats, but won only in Kollegal (SC) assembly constituency. The party has now decided not to have an alliance or understanding with any of the three prominent parties. At the last polls, JD(s) supremo HD Deve Gowda and his son, ex-chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, had approached BSP supremo Mayawati for an alliance. It helped the then BSPs state chief N Mahesh win the partys lone seat in Karnataka. However, Mahesh who was also inducted into the Ministry in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, resigned from the ministry to join the BJP, putting the BSP and its cadres in an awkward position. The BSP which has a considerable cadre base in minority-dominated constituencies and Raitha sangha in old Mysuru and a few North central Karnataka regions now plans to support SDPI in Narashimaraja in Mysuru, KRRS in Melkote, besides some other seats. The BSP leaders feel the combination of Bahujans-Muslims and farmers can set the tone for new social equations in Karnataka, besides making an impact in the state politics. The BSP has set its eyes on winning over the youth and educated voters in urban and rural areas and plans to highlight how various benefits like scholarships and fellowships were denied to SC/ST students by the BJP-ruled state governments. BSP State President Krishna Murthy said talks are on with SDPI, KRRS and progressive organisations to provide an alternative to BJP, Congress and JD(S), in whom people have lost faith. Murthy said that they will make the presentation before Mayawati and will get her nod at the earliest to seal the pact.

Somanna to play key role in BJP's poll strategy in Mysuru region - Deccan Herald

Somanna to play key role in BJP's poll strategy in Mysuru region Deccan Herald

Protests Over High Toll Fee, Incomplete Works Continue on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway; Bommai Cries Politically Motivated

The Congress, JD(S) and other organisations have been staging protests on the newly inaugurated Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway over high toll fee and incomplete work, as well as lack of basic amenities

Bengaluru: JD(S) protests, blocks Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway over toll collection

Bengaluru: JD(S) protests, blocks Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway over toll collection

JD(S) workers detained at Bengaluru-Mysuru highway amid protest at toll plaza - Deccan Herald

JD(S) workers detained at Bengaluru-Mysuru highway amid protest at toll plaza Deccan Herald

Toll protest: JD(S) workers block Bengaluru-Mysuru highway

Toll protest: JD(S) workers block Bengaluru-Mysuru highway

Siddaramaiah wants CM Bommai to resign, dismiss Maharastra Govt

HUBBALLI: Siddaramaiah, the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, has urged the Central Government to oust the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra Government on the grounds that Maharashtra is infringing on Karnataka's sovereignty. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said It is unacceptable that the Maharashtra government is enacting a health insurance programme for residents of 865 bordering Karnataka villages. Both the union system and state sovereignty are in danger. The state government there should be dismissed right away by the central government . Basavraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, was further called upon by Siddaramaiah to resign, claiming he had failed in his responsibility to uphold the state. Furthermore, Chief Minister Bommai has failed to defend the state's and Kannadigas' interests. He lacks the authority to be Chief Minister for even a brief period. I urge that he resign he said. The Karnataka government should not keep silent over border disputes with the Maharashtra government, Siddaramaiah said. The Mahajan Commission's report on the border region has been accepted by the Karnataka government. Maharashtra continues to bring up the subject, nevertheless. No space should be given up by our state. Our right is to preserve our land-water borders. There should be no silence from the Karnataka administration , he said. Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, had earlier declared that not a single inch of land will be given to Maharashtra. Notably, the State Reorganization Act of 1956's adoption was the catalyst for the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. The then-Maharashtra government had urged the readjustment of its border with Karnataka. After this, a 4-member panel was formed by both states. The government of Maharashtra had expressed willingness to transfer 260 predominantly Kannada-speaking villages, however, the proposal was turned down by Karnataka. Both governments later approached the Supreme Court to speed up the matter. TDP MLAs suspended from the Assembly for the day PM Modi to visit Kartnataka on March 12, inaugurate Bangalore-Mysuru Expressway Karnataka Poll 2023: BJP to kickstart Vijay Sankalp yatra from March 11

TDP MLAs suspended from the Assembly for the day

VIJAYAWADA : The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs disrupted the proceedings on Thursday, March 16, as soon as Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy began presenting the Budget for FY 20232024. Despite Rajendranath Reddy's opening remarks that the State had been going through difficult times for more than four years due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, K. Atchannaidu, Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, and others yelled that the Budget was a pointless exercise because the State was in debt and the government could not even make timely payment of salaries to its employees. The TDP MLAs came with a plan to cause a commotion, unable to accept the government's performance, said Chief Minister YS. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who entered the Assembly a little while earlier. Thus, he said, the opposition MLAs should be pushed out to make room for the introduction of the budget, which was highly anticipated by the public. Seetharam said the Telugu Desam Party MLAs had the freedom to leave if they are not in the mood to listen to the FM or be sent out as they filed into the House well and threw papers towards the Speaker's podium. The TDP MLAs, he said, might speak about the budget either during the planned discussion or in front of the media. After a motion to that effect was formally passed by Rajendranath Reddy, who is also the Minister for Legislative Affairs, the Speaker then suspended the TDP MLAs. Once marshals entered to evacuate them, the opposition MLAs left on their own. Resuming his remarks, Rajendranath Reddy said that the Opposition's attempt to obstruct the Budget presentation was unprecedented and that they should be expelled. PM Modi to visit Kartnataka on March 12, inaugurate Bangalore-Mysuru Expressway Karnataka Poll 2023: BJP to kickstart Vijay Sankalp yatra from March 11 Karnataka: Kejriwal to address public rally to kickstart poll campaign

Karnataka HC seeks NHAI response on e-way toll collection onBengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

Because of glitches in fastag scanners, commuters are being forced to take the service road, thereby causing a delay. BENGALURU: Taking suo motu cognisance of issues raised by commuters after the commencement of toll collection on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, the high court on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to file its response within three weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Ashok S Kinagi passed the order while hearing the public interest litigation filed in 2022 on issues such as lack of safety measures and signages for widening of the stretch of the national highway between Bengaluru and Kanakapura. Referring to media reports, the court noted that issues such as commencement of toll collection without completion of work on the expressway between Bengaluru and Mysuru, improper functioning of boom barriers causing minor damages to vehicles at toll booths, and technical glitches in automatic fastag scanners have become a cause for concern. Because of glitches in fastag scanners, commuters are being forced to take the service road, thereby causing a delay. Referring to the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, the court said the rules mandate various prerequisites, including issuing of public notice, before commencement of toll collection. But it appears that this has not been done before commencement of toll collection. Hence, all issues related to toll collection should be considered in public interest. With regard to the PIL concerning widening of Bengaluru-Kanakapura stretch, the court appointed advocate Shivaprasad Shantanagoudar as its commissioner to inspect and verify the claims of petitioners and NHAI.

NHAI barricades e-way stretch of Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway for repair work

Soon after the barricades were put on the stretch, travellers and netizens took to social media to criticise the government and the NHAI for improper maintenance. BENGALURU: Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have barricaded a portion of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway from Tuesday night after steel plates on the road joints were found damaged. Soon after the barricades were put on the stretch, travellers and netizens took to social media to criticise the government and the NHAI for improper maintenance. They accused the NHAI and the government for collecting toll withoutproviding a proper road. Member of Parliament Pratap Simha took to social media to inform people that the road was not damaged and the NHAI is taking up minor repair work. However, unconvinced by it, travellers demanded the government to stop toll collection until the road is ready. Meanwhile, officials from NHAI told The New Indian Express that they found a portion of the joint steel plate protruding during daily inspection rounds on the expressway at Nedagatta, near Bidadi. To avoid accidents and ensure that no vehicle passing on the stretch is damaged, we immediately barricaded the portion and started the repair work on the stretch. It will be open for the public in two days, said an NHAI official. The officials said that two months ago a lorry carrying excessive load had toppled at the portion of the expressway and had damaged it. It is not true that the stretch has been opened for people only from Sunday (March 12), after it was inaugurated by the prime minister. Citizens have been using the stretch even before that and lakhs of vehicles ply on the road every day. Due to wear and tear, the steel plate has been damaged further and required immediate repair work, the official added.

Congress to protest against e-way toll collection inBengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh slammed the authorities for collecting toll from motorists using the new Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway even before the project is fully ready. BENGALURU: Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh slammed the authorities for collecting toll from motorists using the new Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway even before the project is fully ready. Speaking to media persons, the Congress MP termed it as BJPs Ugadi gift to the people of the Old Mysuru region. He said Congress will stage a protest against it after discussing it in the party forum. Responding to a question if he will contest the upcoming Assembly polls from Ramanagara, he said so far the party leaders have not discussed it with him. The MP said he has no interest in state politics. We do not have any soft corner for anyone and the Congress is confident of winning the constituency, he said. KPCC president DK Shivakumar had on Tuesday stated that they had discussed the matter in the party and are yet to take any decision.

Mahadevappa not to contest in Karnataka polls, to support late Congress leader Dhruvanarayan's son

Mahadevappa spent some time with the family and assured them that he will stand by Darshan to help him fulfil his fathers wish. MYSURU: In a major political development ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, former minister HC Mahadevappa has decided not to contest the April/May Assembly elections from Nanjangud segment and has extended his support to Darshan, son of the late Congress leaderR Dhruvanarayan. Dhruvanarayan, a former MP and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president, suffered a massive heart attack and passed away last week. Mahadevappa, along with his son Sunil Bose, called on the grieving family of Dhruvanarayan on Wednesday. Mahadevappa spent some time with the family and assured them that he will stand by Darshan to help him fulfil his fathers wish. You are also like my son Sunil. I will extend all support to your family and will help you nurture in politics, he told Darshan. I will extend support (to Darshan) and will ensure that he wins by a huge margin. I wanted to convey my decision to Dhruvanarayans family on the day of his death only... but I waited for three days for the family to recover from the shock. I dont want to do politics in death. We have lost a committed party leader and it is a great loss to the party and society, Mahadevappa said. He appealed to all his followers to support Darshan. The veteran leader said that both himself and Dhruvanarayan were aspirantsfor the ticket and would have stood by the high commands decision. Mahadevappa said that he will work as an ordinary party worker and strive to bring back Congress to power. Meanwhile, Darshan thanked Mahadevappa forhis gesture.

Toll fiasco: Karnataka HC takes suo motu cognisance of reports

Taking suo motu cognisance of various media reports, including that of TOI, on the inconvenience caused to motorists on Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway on Tuesday, the first day of toll collection, the high court has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to submit its response by April 11.

BJP propagates fiction as history: 'Uri and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu Sultan'

Karnataka polls Historians have long believed that Tipu was killed by the British during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1798-99. They call the BJPs new version a sinister design. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom, has been used to polarise votes in Karnataka for over a decade. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has now brought in two new characters to further provoke and divide voters in the state Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda. These two names have started featuring in right-wing narratives as the Vokkaliga chieftains, who they claim killed Tipu Sultan. While the tale helps the BJP in pitting Vokkaligas against Muslims and reaping political benefits, questions have been raised about who these two characters are and whether they even existed. Historians have long believed that Tipu was killed by the British during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1798-99. The British, along with the Marathas and Nizam of Hyderabad, attacked Srirangapatna. Using Mir Sadiq, a minister in Tipus court, they managed to defeat and kill Tipu. But according to the right-wings fabricated version of history, the former ruler of Mysore was killed by two Vokkaliga chieftains for betraying Mysore Wodeyars'. One historian believes that these two people existed and were in Hyder Ali, Tipus fathers army. Others say Uri and Nanje Gowda are not mentioned anywhere in the books of history. All of them however agree that the characters have never been documented as having any links to Tipus death. The first mention of Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Karnataka to inaugurate the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway, four arches were put up on the route. One of them was named after Kempe Gowda, a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Empire, who is credited with developing Bengaluru, the second one after Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the former ruler of Mysuru, and the third after Sir M Visvesvaraya, former Divan of Mysuru and one of Indias foremost engineers. The fourth arch had the names of Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda. After the Congress objected, and the issue became a controversy, the arch was removed and replaced. The first mention of these two characters was in the play Tippu Nijakanasugalu (Real Dreams of Tipu) written by the former Director of Rangayana, Addanda Cariappa. In November 2022, the play was staged at Bhoomigeeta in Mysuru and a book was also published with the same story. At this time, BS Rafiulla, the former Chairman of the District Wakf Board Committee, filed a writ petition seeking a stay on the play and the book alleging that it contains wrong information without any support or justification from history, and that it hurt the feelings of the Muslim community. Since then, BJP leaders in Karnataka have started using the two names to attack Tipu Sultan and the Congress party-led state government which started celebrating Tipu Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the former Mysuru ruler. In December 2022, BJP leader CT Ravi claimed in Karnatakas Mandya that the two Vokkaliga leaders Uri and Naje Gowda had contributed to the development of the Mysuru region, not Tipu Sultan. He also promised to build their statues in the Mandya district. A few weeks ago, Karnataka Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, addressing a rally in Mandya, said that Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda finished off Tipu Sultan, and that similarly, the Vokkaliga voters of the district should finish off Siddaramaiah. The statement had caused a huge row and Ashwath Narayan expressed regret later. No record of Uri and Nanje Gowda Cultural theorist and author N Manu Chakravarthy calls the claim that Uri and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu a pure figment of the right-wing imagination. So far, no authentic historical statement has emerged or been made in relation to these two characters, especially in regard to the betrayal of Tipu Sultan. They are not part of any major or serious historical discourse, he says. He says that there are monuments in Srirangapatna to show that Tipu was ambushed by the British and that the historical documents also testify the same. I have never come across these two namesUri and Nanje Gowda in writing, folklore, or songs. If they had existed, what have historians been doing all these years? he asks. Professor NV Narasimhaiah, a veteran historian who specialises in the history of the Mysuru Kingdom agrees. He says that for months now, he has been referencing books to look for any mention of these two names. There is no reference in history about these two imaginary characters. A former director of Rangayana Addanda Cariappa had written a play where he claimed that these characters killed Tipu Sultan. His claims that he has documents are nonsense. Is he a historian? He has not studied history at all, Narasimhaiah says. He also adds that for decades, all history books have asserted that Tipu was killed in the fourth Anglo-Mysore war after the Governor General of the British army, Welelsley, won over the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad to fight against Tipu. There was a traitor in Tipus army by the name of Mir Sadiq. He was offered the Kingdom of Mysore if he helped kill Tipu, he says. NS Rangaraju, another historian says that the two characters were in Hyder Alis army, and that during a war with the Marathas, they saved him and his mother. BJP distorting history Both historians believe that the BJP is using these characters to manipulate history and gain political dividends. The BJP is not going back in history, but distorting history itself to vitiate the future. It is part of a sinister design. One can create any number of imaginary characters. But this is being done to break the Vokkaliga vote bank, says Manu Chakravarthy. Prof Narasimhaiah too calls it a ploy to set Vokkaligas against Muslims. The Old Mysuru region, which has 61 Assembly seats, has a large number of Vokkaliga voters. It has been one region in the state where the BJP has had the least electoral success. The Congress and the JD(S) have historically fought each other in the region. But for several months now, the BJP has been making a serious attempt to breach the region. From building a 108-feet Kempe Gowda statue to PM Modi's inauguration of the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway with much pomp and splendor, the BJP has clearly expressed its intent to win voters. The BJP national president JP Nadda had chosen the Hanur Assembly constituency in Chamarajnagar to flag off the partys Vijay Sankalp Yatra, and Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed a rally in Mandya in December, in one of his first election-related engagements in the state. In this context, the tale of the two Gowdas killing Tipu Sultan sets the perfect backdrop for the BJP to create a Vokkaliga versus Muslims narrative. While both the Congress and JD(S) call themselves secular parties and often vie for the votes of minorities, the BJP rarely makes such an attempt.

Karnataka elections 2023: ESCOMs say no load shedding this summer

Karnataka Elections 2023 The decision was taken keeping in mind the interests of students and farmers, the MDs of the five Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) said after a meeting on March 15. As summer begins in Karnataka, the five Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the state have said they will ensure that there is no load shedding in the coming months. The decision was taken keeping in mind the interests of students and farmers, the ESCOM directors said during a meeting on Wednesday, March 15. Power demand is very high during summer since SSLC and PUC exams have started and farmers have requested the government to supply uninterrupted power during summer, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) Managing Director Mahantesh Bilagi said. In order to meet the high electricity demand in the summer months, the Energy Department has instructed the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) and all ESCOMS to take necessary actions to meet the rising electricity demand. A press note issued by the ESCOMs said that a study has been undertaken by them on the power requirements for the next three months. The note says that according to the study, the KPTCL and ESCOMs should constrain the free transmission and distribution network in their jurisdiction and not resort to unscheduled load shedding. It is to be noted that Karnataka will have Assembly elections before the end of May 2023. All ESCOMs have been asked to equip with sufficient financial strength to purchase the power required to meet the demand during summer, apart from being ready for any contingency at the state-level. The five ESCOMs are Bengaluru (BESCOM), Mangaluru (MESCOM), Hubballi (HESCOM), Kalaburagi (GESCOM), and Mysuru (Chamundi Electricity Supply Company). Meanwhile, BESCOM has estimated that an average of 7,600 megawatts (MW) of power will be needed per day in March, and power consumption will likely touch 132 million units in the same month. The first 12 days of March recorded an average demand of 7,400 MW. For April, BESCOM has estimated an average demand of 7,650 MW and consumption of 135 million units per day.

Bengaluru man poses as IPS officer and got lakhs in bribes, owned BMW car

News Inspired by south Indian movies, Srinivas got a uniform stitched and created a fake ID card. A man from Maruthi Nagar in Bengalurus Chandra Layout, identified as R Srinivas, was arrested by the Talaghattapura police on Tuesday for posing as a probationary IPS officer and cheating people of their money. Srinivas, who had the desire to become a police officer after watching south Indian movies with plots revolving around the police force, got a uniform stitched and created a fake ID card to gain the public's trust. He would tell people that he was on probation and would soon receive a service revolver. Srinivas was even felicitated by some people, according to the Times of India. The police began investigating Srinivas based on a complaint filed by one of his victims, Venkatnarayan, who was cheated out of nearly Rs 1.8 crore on March 6. Srinivas had convinced Venkatnarayan to invest in a land deal worth Rs 450 crore in Mysuru and asked for Rs 2.5 crore to facilitate the transaction. Venkatnarayan trusted Srinivas and gave him Rs 49 lakh, which he received back in December 2022. Venkatnarayan then gave Srinivas Rs 1.2 crore from a hotel owner in Jayanagar and Rs 56 lakh from some other friends. Srinivas took the money and disappeared. During the investigation, the police found that Srinivas had cheated many people in a similar manner. The police arrested him and recovered three vehicles, including a BMW, worth about Rs 23 lakh. Srinivas had spent all the money on his luxurious lifestyle, according to the police. He would party in plush hotels and constantly change his house to hide from his victims.

Man poses as IPS officer, dupes businessman of Rs 1.75 crore

The complainant gave him Rs. 49 lakh which the accused returned in December and asked for more money. BENGALURU:A diploma holder, R Srinivas (34), a resident of Maruthi Nagar in Chandra Layout, who posed as an IPS officer and cheated a businessman ofRs 1.75 crore has been arrested by the Thalaghattapura police. The police said Venkatnarayan, a used car dealer, filed a complaint alleging that he came in contact with Srinivas through a friend and Srinivas introduced himself as an IPS officer working as an ASP in Bengaluru South division, in June last year. The conman claimed that he was handling a litigation property case in Mysuru which would fetch him Rs 250 crore and for the same he needed Rs. 2.5 crore. The complainant gave him Rs. 49 lakh which theaccused returned in December and asked for more money. To gain the complainantstrust, Srinivas had also taken him to his fiancee Ramyas house for a pooja. The complainant arranged Rs. 1.20 crore from a hotelier and another Rs. 56 lakh from his friends and gave it to the accused, after which Srinivas switched off his phone and went incommunicado. The victim tried to contact Ramya, whose phone was also switched off. Realising that he was cheated, he approached the police. Based on his complaint, the fake officer was arrested, the police said. Investigations revealed that the accused was inspired by watching characters of police officers in movies and started imitating them. He got a police uniform and created a fake ID card as an IPS officer. He hired SUVs and wentto meet people wearing thepolice uniform so that they would not suspect him. He also interacted with police staff and took photographs with them but nobody suspected his credentials as he claimed to be a senior officer, the police said, adding that he took to cheating people to make easy and fast money to lead a lavish life, buy luxury bikes and spend on his girlfriend Ramya. It was found that he was arrested by the Vijayanagar police in connection with a car theft case in 2010 and he was released on bail, the police said.

Held at knife-point, two couples robbed on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

On their return to Mysuru, the car stopped suddenly after developing a snag. Pushing the car to the roadside, they telephoned the NHAI helpline and could not find any help to tow the car. BENGALURU: Two couples who were waiting for help following a car breakdown on the new Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway were threatened and robbed by two scooter-borne robbers in the wee hours of Monday. They had come to Bengaluru to drop one of their friends at Nayandahalli. On their return to Mysuru, the car stopped suddenly after developing a snag. Pushing the car to the roadside, they telephoned the NHAI helpline and could not find any help to tow the car. The victims later called the police control room after they were robbed. The complainant cited the lack of safety measures with no proper street lights and zero patrolling. One of the women victim was held at knife point while they were robbed of all their gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 2.5 lakhs. The incident happened near Channapatna in Ramanagar district police limits. Medical representative Lohith Rao along with his wife and technician Naveen along with his wife who are from Mysuru Town were threatened at knife point and robbed around 1.50 am on Monday between Devarahosahalli and Thittamaranahalli on the new expressway. Speaking to TNIE, Rao said that the accused after entering from the service road approached the car and started knocking on the windshield. As one of them was wearing khaki-coloured pants, we mistook them for policemen and stepped out of the car. Since both the women were sitting inside, one of the accused got in and held them at knife point. We did not have any other option and had to hand over all our valuables. Rao said. After robbing us, the duo casually walked alongside the main road and disappeared in the dark. Rao added. The police produced three suspects. The victims did not identify the three suspects saying that the accused were different. The accused seem to be professional, said the police.

Over 2.44 FRA claims rejected in Karnataka

In Karnataka, a majority of claims of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR) under Forest Rights Act (FRA) were being rejected causing anger among the tribal community members who are in a huge number in several districts including Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.

Protest rages against toll at Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

KPCC president D K Shivakumar, who went on the expressway, got down from his car, went to the toll booth and collected the receipt himself. BENGALURU: The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expresswayturned chaotic as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)started toll collection from 8 am on Tuesday. The Kaniminike toll booth ahead of the entrance of the expressway turned into a protest site with Congress workers and pro-Kannada activists slamming the state and Central government for collecting tolls without completing the expressway. As the protest started to affect vehicle movement, the police force was beefed up in the area. KPCC president D K Shivakumar, who went on the expressway, got down from his car, went to the toll booth and collected the receipt himself. He posted a picture of the toll receipt on Twitter and said that he too experienced the problems faced by people and said that for his travel from Bidadi to Ramanagara, he was made to pay Rs 270, while the actual toll charge was Rs 135. Users of the road complained that the toll charges were exorbitant and in the absence of a service road, collecting toll was nothing but looting the common people.I wanted to go to Srirangapatna and used the expressway. While the road is good, the fee collected is too high, complained Prashanth, a resident of Kengeri. Protesters said that the expressway is unfinished, the locals are not provided passes. They said it even lacks basic amenities like toilets and alleged that it has snatched the livelihood of hundreds of hoteliers and handicraft artisans. The toll charges from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta in Mandya district covering a distance of 55.63 km are - Rs 135 for cars, Rs 460 for buses and trucks, and the fee goes up to Rs 880 depending on the vehicle type for single journey. The two-way journey for a car is Rs 205, Rs 690 for buses and truck, and goes up to Rs 1,315. Vehicles without FASTag will be charged double.

D K Shivakumar hints at his MP-brotherSuresh contesting from Ramanagara

This is seen as an attempt to outplay senior JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamys plans to field his son Nikhil from the constituency. BENGALURU: The Congress seems to be toying with the idea of fielding Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumars brother and party MP for Bengaluru Rural DK Suresh from the Ramanagara segment in the April/May Assembly election. This is seen as an attempt to outplay senior JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamys plans to field his son Nikhil from the constituency. The constituency is currently held by Kumaraswamys wife Anitha. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Shivakumar said that the party central leaders have discussed the matter in the recent meeting and party workers in Ramanagara were also urging that he or Suresh contest from the segment. It will be a big decision. I am yet to discuss it with our leaders and Suresh. After discussions, we will decide whatever it is in the best interests of the party, the Kanakapura MLA said, adding that they have to go by the partys decision. Going by the party directives, he had contested againstJDS supremo HD Deve Gowda. Sometimes in politics,it becomes inevitable, he added. Bengaluru Rural was the only seat that the Congress had managed to win in the 2019 General Elections when stalwarts like Mallikarjun Kharge, KH Muniyappa, M Veerappa Moily and several other leaders lost. The BJP won 25 of the 28 seats in that election when Congress and JDS went to elections with a pre-poll alliance. If the Congress decides to field Suresh from Ramanagara, which is considered to be a JDS bastion, it will be among the most high-profile constituencies to watch out for thistime. Under Shivakumars leadership, the Congress is striving to get maximum supportfrom the dominant Vokkaliga community in the Old Mysuru region, while regional party leadership is making all efforts to consolidate its support base in the community. Support from the community forms the core of the JDSs political base in the region. While the final decisionon fielding Suresh fromRamanagara will decide on various factors, including the JDS leaders rapport with the Congress high command, Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said anyone can contest from anywhere and winning and losing is part of the elections. Rahul to visit Belagavi on March 20 Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will release the partys manifesto for youth on March 20 in Belagavi. This is Rahuls first visit to Karnataka after his recent Bharat Jodo Yatra. Rahul will take part in the partys youth rally and release a manifesto for them during his proposed visit. KPCC president DK Shivakumar is holding a meeting with party leaders from the Kittur Karnataka region in Belagavi on March 16 to review preparations for the event.

Times Business Awards presented in Mysuru

Dhruvanarayana death: Cong sorely misses its leader in Mysuru, Cnagar

CCTV cameras to catch traffic violators on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway

Drivers beware! The next time you violate lane discipline on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway 48, you have to shell out Rs 500 as fine at toll plazas. CHITRADURGA:Drivers beware! The next time you violate lane discipline on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway 48, you have to shell out Rs 500 as fine at toll plazas. High-definition cameras have been installed at vantage points, which can read the number plates and capture images of the vehicles. The police, who will be monitoring the movement of vehicles on the highway through the automated number plate recognition cameras installed along NH 48, from Tumakuru to Belagavi, will identify the violators and impose fines on them. As per the directions of the Director-General and Inspector General of Police, the automated number plate recognition cameras have been installed on a pilot basis in Chitradurga, Davangere and Haveri. Motorists must follow lane discipline The cameras started functioning from March 12. In future, this facility will be extended to all national highways in the state to prevent accidents and violation of lane discipline. The first lane of the NH is reserved for fast moving vehicles, whereas heavy vehicles are allowed on the last lane. Medium-speed vehicles are allowed on the middle lane. It is often found that heavy and light motor vehicles, which took the fast lane, caused accidents. Hence, this initiative has been taken up. Pol ice have directed the motorists to use the respective lanes as per speed and weight of vehicles. In case of any violation, like heavy vehicles using the fast track (first lane), their drivers will be made to pay a fine of Rs 500 at the next nearest toll, where the cops will collect it. Chitradurga Superintendent of Police K Parashuram told The New Indian Express that the automated number plate recognition cameras will be monitored by staff, who will pass on information to those deployed at toll plazas to collect fines from the violators. The location of violation and e-slips will be generated by policemen who collect fines. If the violators evade payment of fine, the Transport Department will collect it during renewal of licenses, the SP said. All motorists should follow lane discipline. Heavy vehicles should take the extreme left lane and the fast moving ones the first lane. Medium-speed vehicles should use the middle lane, he said. Other traffic violations such as use of cellphones while driving and not wearing seat belts will also be monitored in future, he added. Cong workers protest toll collection on expressway As the NHAI began collecting toll on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway on Tuesday, Congress workers and Kannada activists protested against the government for collecting the toll without completing the expressway.

Chaos, protests at new toll plaza on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway

Massive chaos and traffic snarls were reported on Tuesday at the Kaniminike toll plaza on the recently inaugurated Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. While irate commuters staged protests over having to pay a higher toll fee even for short-distance travel on the e-way, closure of the service road and technical glitches such as faulty barricades and malfunctioning FASTag scanners complicated the situation.

KSRTC bus travel between Bengaluru, Mysuru gets costlier - Deccan Herald

KSRTC bus travel between Bengaluru, Mysuru gets costlier Deccan Herald

Cong workers protest over toll collection at Bengaluru-Mysuru e-way

Several people were detained by the police on Tuesday, after the Congress party and some pro-Kannada organisations, protested over the toll levied on motorists using the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.

Plaint against farmer leader Puttannaiah for wearing peacock feather garland

Darshan continued his padayatra wearing the garland in the villages. MYSURU:Wildlife activists have filed a complaint against Sarvodaya Karnataka Party and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader Darshan Puttannaiah for wearing a garland made of peacock feathers during his election campaign in Pandavapura taluk on Sunday evening. Darshan, who has launched Jana Mana Darshana, Idhu Baravaseya Yana campaign, was on a padayatra at Visvesvaraya Nagar in Pandavapura taluk on Sunday evening, when some of his supporters honoured him with a huge garland made of peacock feathers. Darshan continued his padayatra wearing the garland in the villages. With the video and photos of Darshan wearing the garland going viral on social media, wildlife activists have filed a complaint against him and his followers, accusing them of violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Forest officials have launched an investigation.

Modi tsunami in Karnataka, says Bommai

PM took the country on the path of development, helped poor during difficult times like Covid-19: CM HUBBALLI:Chief MinisterBasavaraj Bommai on Monday said that there is a massive Modi tsunami in Karnataka. Addressing reporters here on Monday, Bommai called Modi a tall leader who has held India high and ensured internal security by ensuring tight security on the international border. The PM took the country on the path of development and helped crores of poor people during difficult times like Covid-19, the CM said. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma greets people at Siruguppa in Ballari district during BJPs Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra on Monday. He said that Prime MinisterNarendra Modi is fighting hard for a corruption-free society | Express In his sixth visit to the poll-bound state this year, Modi on Sunday inaugurated a slew of projects, including the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. On speculation that Housing Minister V Somanna might quit the BJP ahead of the polls, Bommai said he and the former are old friends and they had an informal meeting in Hubballi. We did not discuss politics. Somanna will remain in the BJP, he added. On a bandh call given by the staff of KPTCL and escoms, the CM said that Energy Minister V Sunil is in touch with them and the issue would be sorted out soon. Later speaking to reporters in Ron town of Gadag district, the CM said that a proposal to include Lakkundi in the Hampi Circuit has been sent to the Union Government. On complaints of lack of development, including bad roads in Ron, he said that his government is committed to the development of the entire state and steps will be taken for the development of Ron. Reacting to the non-disbursal of the compensation tothe families of gram panchayat and zilla panchayat members due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bommai promised that he would get details immediately and arrange for the immediate disbursement of the compensation to the families of Covid victims.

DC moots night tourism in Mysuru - The Hindu

DC moots night tourism in Mysuru The Hindu

First PM to visit Mandya in 27 years, Modi stresses double-engine benefits

Vokkaliga-dominated Mandya turned a sea of saffron on Sunday as people from the district turned up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a flying trip to the state to inaugurate the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, launch a slew of other projects and hold a roadshow.

Modi aims to breach JDS bastion with roadshow

The Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway has come as an opportunity for PM Narendra Modi to boost poll prospects for BJP in the Vokkaliga bastion.

Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway will boost tourism, economy: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway will contribute to the development of the state and boost tourism.

Congress wants to dig my grave, but I want to build top infra: PM Modi

Modi dedicates Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway Lays foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway Highlights welfare programmes

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway: Kengeri bottleneck comes into focus - Deccan Herald

Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway: Kengeri bottleneck comes into focus Deccan Herald

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway : PM

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BJP Targets Rival's Bastion In Karnataka, PM Leads Roadshow

With strong anti-incumbency fuelled by a wave of corruption allegations in Karnataka, the BJP is now banking on Prime Minister Modi's popularity in hope of winning votes in Mandya - the region which has been the stronghold of its rival Janata Dal (Secular) or JDS for the election due later this year. The Prime Minister lay the foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 16,000 crore in Mandya and Hubballi-Dharwad districts. He inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which is a six-lane project of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275.

Race to promote awareness on rare diseases held in Mysuru - The Hindu

Race to promote awareness on rare diseases held in Mysuru The Hindu