Karnataka News
Siddaramaiah to be new Karnataka CM, DK Shivakumar his deputy, claims report but Congress yet to declare
Karnataka Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah will be next chief minister of the state and state party chief DK Shivakumar will be his deputy, reports quoting sources have claimed.
Karnataka Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah will be next chief minister of the state and state party chief DK Shivakumar will be his deputy, reports quoting sources have claimed.
According to an India Today report, after days of deliberating, the Congress high command has finally made up their mind and green-lighted Siddaramaiah as the next chief minister of Karnataka with DK Shivakumar likely to be given the deputy CM responsibilities.
The report, quoting Congress sources, said that Siddaramaiah will likely be sworn-in on Thursday afternoon and will take the oath alone.
A Congress legislator party meeting will be called tomorrow at Kanteerava Stadium around 3.30 pm, the report said.
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were the main contenders for the state’s top post after the grand old party registered a thumping victory in last week’s Assembly elections by winning 135 out of the 224 seats.
Shivakumar, who along with Siddaramaiah, was the backbone of the Congress campaign that ousted the BJP from power in the recently held elections, is likely to be offered coveted portfolios along with the Deputy CM chair, the report said.
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On Tuesday, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Randeep Surjewala to deliberate upon picking the Chief Ministerial candidate for Karnataka.
Both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah also met the party’s top leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Congress registered a huge victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls, wresting the power back from arch rivals BJP as it secured a simple majority with 135 seats in 224-seat Assembly.
The ruling BJP won 66 seats while former CM HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal (Secular) secured 19 seats.
Siddaramaiah’s veteran guile, leadership skills and mass popularity and DK Shivakumar’s organisation abilities have been credited for the Congress’s remarkable comeback in the Karnataka polls where even the BJP’s trusted method of calling in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, failed.
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India News
Bengaluru: Police issue traffic advisory ahead of Eid celebrations, check routes, diversions here
The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday.
Amid Eid celebrations, Bengaluru traffic police issued a fresh traffic advisory on Thursday. The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday. The advisory listed diversions, restrictions, alternate routes and timings.
The Bengaluru police asserted that the processions are set to be taken on between 3pm and 9pm today and large gatherings are likely to take place. It is reported that the traffic congestion on Tuesday occurred as residents headed out for the long weekend with Eid Milad on Thursday, a state-wide bandh on Friday and Gandhi Jayanti on Monday.
The Bengaluru police noted that in view of Eid-Milad procession in the limits of Ulsoor Gate Traffic Police Station, on 28.09.2023 from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm, a large number of people are expected to gather at YMCA ground, Nrupathunga road. They added that in order to ascertain free flow of traffic, the following traffic arrangements have been made.
According to the police, few roads that the residents should avoid during the Eid celebrations are Nrupathunga Road, Dr B R Ambedkar Road, Nayanadanahalli Junction, Kimko Junction, Bapuji Nagar, Market Circle. In addition, movement of vehicles has also been restricted in a few roads such as Nagawara junction to Pottery circle road, Nethaji circle towards Pottery circle, Haines road from Lazar road and M.M. road, H.M. road from KEB junction to Hall road.
Meanwhile, parking is restricted on both sides of the following roads: Nagawara Junction to Pottery Circle, Govindapura Junction to Govindapura L&O Police Station, HBR Layout Sidddappa Reddy Junction to Narendra Tent Junction, Nethaji junction to Haines junction, Haines junction to New Bamboo Bazar junction, Haines junction to Haj camp, Lazar road to Wheelers road Thoms Cafe junction.
On September 27, residents of Bengaluru witnessed a massive traffic jam, leaving hundreds of them stuck for hours. Notably, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos of Bengaluru’s congested road as social media users complained about the tragic situation.
India News
Cauvery water dispute: Bengaluru bandh evokes partial response as public services function normally
Though cab services, autos and hotels, restaurants were seen operating, drivers and hotel operators asserted not many people were coming out to utilise the services.
The Bengaluru bandh summoned by farmers and Kannada organisations on Tuesday and supported by the BJP and JD(S) in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu evoked partial response as most of the public services were functioning normally. However, very few people ventured out in the streets.
Though cab services, autos and hotels, restaurants were seen operating, drivers and hotel operators asserted not many people were coming out to utilise the services. In Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses and Metro rail services, the usual rush was not seen. In addition, Ola-Uber Drivers Association and Hotel Owners Association have said that their services will be normal today.
On the other hand, Bengaluru Urban district Deputy Commissioner Dayananda K A has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city on Tuesday, in wake of the bandh. Several private companies and firms, including those in the IT sector have asked their employees to work from home. Some shopping malls in the city have decided to remain shut. Many shops and establishments were also seen not functioning as usual in the morning hours.
Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti, which is an umbrella outfit of farmers’ associations and other organisations headed by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar, has given the call for today’s dawn-to-dusk (6 am to 6 pm) Bengaluru shutdown. Shanthakumar and other leaders of the Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti were arrested by the police at the Mysuru Bank circle, as they were trying to hold a protest march towards Town Hall.
In addition, multiple activists of Kannada organisations were also whisked away by the police at Town Hall, as they gathered there to demonstrate a protest. Farmers’ leaders and Kannada activists slammed the government for allegedly using police force to curtail the protests and bandh. Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations are further expected to stage a protest at the Freedom Park, which is a designated place for such demonstrations.
According to reports, city police have taken adequate security measures to respond to any violence that may happen during the protests. Nearly 100 platoons have been deployed. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated that prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in place across the city from midnight on Monday to midnight on Tuesday in the view of the bandh.
According to existing restrictions and court orders, there is no permission for any bandh or procession in the city, he added. On the other hand, a Karnataka bandh, a state-wide shutdown, was called on September 29 by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, led by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj. They are not supporting today’s bandh.
Karnataka News
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal announces relaunch of bike-taxi service in Bengaluru
According to Bhavish Aggarwal, bike taxi prices are set at Rs 25 for a 5-kilometer ride and Rs 50 for a 10-kilometer travel.
Ola is reintroducing electric bike taxis in Bengaluru. Bhavish Aggarwal, the company’s CEO, introduced the service via a social media post, offering rides for Rs 25 for 5km and Rs 50 for 10km, with ambitions for statewide expansion.
Bhavish Aggarwal, the company’s co-founder and CEO, posted on the social media platform X, restarting Ola Bike in Blr today. This time, we’re going all electric with our own S1 scooters.
According to Bhavish Aggarwal, bike taxi prices are set at Rs 25 for a 5-kilometer ride and Rs 50 for a 10-kilometer travel.
Rs 25 for 5 kilometres, Rs 50 for 10 kilometres. Lowest cost, highest comfort, and best for the environment! We will expand across India over the next few months, Aggarwal added.
According to reports, cab and car organisations in Bengaluru have recently urged the Karnataka government to impose a ban on bike taxis within the city. They claim that these bike taxis are unsafe for women and that operating them with whiteboard registration plates is against the law. Furthermore, there have been reports of car drivers assaulting Rapido bike taxi drivers because of their presence.
The government claimed that the enforcement of a ban on bike taxis would involve following legal procedures, according to reports. Following the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association’s declaration of a Bengaluru bandh, Karnataka’s Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, stated his determination to meet and resolve the concerns voiced by auto and taxi drivers in the state.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Ola has joined the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to provide food delivery services and is currently visible to a small number of consumers.
According to sources, the corporation has been testing the function for more than a month within its app for staff and the small number of consumers who have access to it.
