Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra), July 27 (IANS) In a pre-election jolt to the ruling ally Nationalist Congress Party’s Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, a senior leader from Parbhani, Abdullah Babajani Khan Durrani, MLC, crossed over to the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), led by Sharad Pawar, here on Saturday.

Babajani, as he is commonly known, functioned as the NCP’s Parbhani district president and was welcomed to the NCP (SP) fold by Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders.

Political circles were agog with speculation over Babajani’s moves amid backdoor talks with the NCP (SP) and finally, he cleared the air on Saturday on his decision.

Sharad Pawar said that many people who joined (Ajit Pawar) felt they had gone astray and were in touch with the NCP (SP), but reiterated that “the final decision on taking them will be decided by the party leadership”.

NCP (SP) circles hinted that Babajani, an ex-MLA and two-time MLC who was always keen to contest the assembly elections, may be considered for a party ticket from Parbhani for the state polls to be held in October.

However, Babajani, who was overlooked for an MLC ticket, denied that he had made any demands from the NCP (SP) or was given any assurance by the party, and claimed that his move was purely on grounds of political ideology.

“The Muslim minority community is under stress… They are disenchanted with the parties in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Under such circumstances, it is awkward to continue with such a party (NCP) any longer, hence I am joining the NCP (SP),” declared Babajani.

Senior NCP (SP) leaders like state President Jayant Patil, national general secretary Jitendra Awhad, Rohit R. Pawar and others have stated in the recent past that around 18-20 legislators from the ruling MahaYuti ally NCP will join NCP (SP), but the NCP leaders have scoffed such suggestions.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 27 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that the Cauvery Aarti will be done on the lines of Ganga Aarti at Brindavan Garden in the premises of the famous KRS Reservoir.

“We are trying to conduct Cauvery Aarti on the lines of Ganga Aarti. It is purely to promote tourism,” the Deputy Chief Minister told media persons while talking about upgrading the KRS Brindavan Garden.

He said that the cabinet has approved the plan to give a new look to the KRS Brindavan Garden.

On opposition remarks that the government is wasting money, the Deputy Chief Minister said: “Their allegations are bogus. This project was proposed during Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s previous government. When Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister and I was the Irrigation Minister, this project was announced in the budget.”

He said that the project will be undertaken with private and public partnerships.

“The government is not making any investment. This will significantly boost tourism. Just like the Ganga Aarti, we will have a Kaveri Aarti program, which is aimed at promoting tourism,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister had said that a Cauvery Aarti programme will be held at the KRS reservoir, similar to the famous Ganga Aarti in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.

When asked about the pending Greater Bangalore bill, he said that all MLAs have stated that there should be a detailed discussion on this matter.

“Due to the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, we need to provide effective governance to Bengaluru. A meeting of MLAs from all parties has been called and a committee will be formed soon. We will accept the suggestions and opinions of the opposition parties,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 27 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said on Saturday that it is not in the fate of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Kumaraswamy, to rename Bengaluru South District and added that its headquarter would be Ramanagara city.

He said this in response to HD Kumaraswamy’s recent statement that he would rename Bengaluru South District as Ramanagara again in 2028.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday in Bengaluru, Dy CM Shivakumar stated, “It is not in his fate to change the name of Bengaluru South to Ramanagara again. In 2028, the Congress party will be in power in the state. I am giving my word, you keep the record of my statement.”

Shivakumar explained, “We are not touching the name of Ramanagara. The headquarters of Bengaluru South district would be Ramanagara city. This is our district. The people of Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Magadi are our people.”

“I was a Zilla Panchayat member of Bengaluru. Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr HD Deve Gowda came here from Hassan District. When Bengaluru was divided it got a different name. It is a divisional headquarters, but it is in Bengaluru District, why should we lose the name?” Shivakumar asked.

“It is the region which produced five to six Chief Ministers for Karnataka. To pursue their political career, Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda have come here, that’s all. They came and went on to become CM and PM.

“All people, irrespective of the political party they belong to, are happy with the renaming of the district to Bengaluru South district,” Shivakumar stated.

“The whole world is looking at Bengaluru. You look at what former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee stated about Bengaluru. I don’t want to lose that. Bengaluru is a global city and why should we not make use of the brand?

“The name, Bengaluru, was chosen by our ancestors and why should we let it go? The headquarters of the Bengaluru South district would be Ramanagara city. It is being done in the interest of the people. We are thinking about the future generations,” Shivakumar stated.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 27 (IANS) A battle royale is in the offing in Kerala with State Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal raising a banter against former Chief Secretary and present Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan — K.M. Abraham.

According to sources, Balagopal has approached his party saying it’s high time that Abraham’s wings are clipped, even when he knows that it would be rubbing Vijayan, the wrong way.

Flamboyant in nature and the final word in all financial matters, Abraham has been having a free run starting from the first Pinarayi Vijayan government in 2016 and was known for his closeness with economist-turned-two-time CPI-M Finance Minister Thomas Isaac.

Abraham’s stock rose hugely when as a full-time SEBI member during 2008-11, his efforts saw the Sahara India Pariwar being tied up in knots and the Supreme Court upheld his judgment against the then high-flying Sahara Group.

After his retirement as Chief Secretary, he was handpicked by Vijayan and after his elevation as the CM’s chief principal secretary, he was given the cabinet rank too.

Balagopal has been facing the flak ever since he replaced Isaac, who was not given the green signal to contest a record straight fifth time as legislator, soon after Vijayan won a second successive term in 2021.

Balagopal was handpicked by Vijayan as the Finance Minister when he had no previous experience in governance. He had only represented a full term in the Upper House starting in 2010.

While Isaac and Abraham gelled well, the duo was largely instrumental in reshaping the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the principal funding arm of the Kerala government.

During Isaac’s term as Minister (2016-21), the duo successfully dealt with both Congress-led UDF and BJP slamming KIIFB and the way it was run.

The present grouse of Balagopal is following the Lok Sabha debacle suffered by Vijayan, when it was able to win just one seat of the 20 Lok Sabha seats. There was a massive outburst in the manner Balagopal handled the state finances as compared to his predecessor Isaac and that comparison hurt him badly.

Incidentally at the CPI-M party stock-taking meeting of the Lok Sabha debacle, Balagopal even offered to quit taking the moral responsibility, but the party leadership asked him to cool down.

Now with Balagopal expressing his ire against Abraham to the party bosses, all eyes are on if Abraham will be reined in as the party is giving Balagopal a clean chit.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday extended greetings to the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics and expressed hope that they will make the nation proud yet again, with their medal wins.

Taking to X, the Congress leader said that all players of Team India are ready for every challenge and the country has a lot of expectations from all of them.

“Best wishes to all the players of the Indian team. May you be victorious!” she wrote on X.

Priyanka’s greeting to the athletes comes just ahead of India beginning its campaign in the month-long sporting extravaganza.

Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also extended wishes to the Indian athletes and said that their medals and glory will inspire future generations.

“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I join the nation in wishing our incredibly talented Indian athletes all the best for the Paris,” he wrote on X.

Notably, Team India has begun its campaign in the Paris Olympics with a couple of events slated for Saturday. On Day 1 of the quadrennial event, the Indian athletes will be in action in at least seven disciplines including hockey, shooting and badminton.

In shooting, Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh, Arjun Babuta and Ramita Jindal will compete in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification at 12:30 PM followed by 10m Air Pistol Men’s Qualification, in which Arjun Singh Cheema and Sarabjot Singh will be in action.

Manu Bhaker and Rhythm Sangwan will also start their campaign on Saturday with 10m Air Pistol Women’s Qualification at 4 pm.

In Tennis, Rohan Bopanna and Sriram Balaji will take on the French pair of Fabian Reboul and Edouard Roger Vasselin in the men’s doubles first-round match at 3:30 pm.

In Badminton, Lakshya Sen will be up against Kevin Gua Cordon in the men’s singles group stage match at 7:10 pm.

–IANS

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