CM DK Shivakumar insists on ground report from officials
“I have to submit a report on the drought situation to the Central government. When the Centre’s team visits for an assessment, BENGALURU: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said his government will ensure that a comprehensive and authentic ground report on the drought situation reaches the Centre before the central team arrives for its own assessment. He said officials were asked to visit fields before filing their reports. “I have told officials I don’t want only paper reports. Your own eyes should be your evidence. Every official must visit farms in their respective taluks and submit reports based on the actual ground conditions within the next 15 days,” he said. “I have to submit a report on the drought situation to the Central government. When the Centre’s team visits for an assessment, we should have all the necessary information ready, and provide accurate data,” he told the media after the cabinet meeting. “I have already requested the Prime Minister to send a Central team to assess the drought situation. Parliament will also begin shortly, and I will brief our Members of Parliament about the ground reality,” he added. He claimed to have held a four-hour special meeting to review the drought situation, and directed officials to remain in their headquarters. The government plans to utilize alternative schemes to keep villagers employed during this period. He appealed to farmers not to sow crops, assuming that water will be released later. “Hydropower reservoirs have 23 per cent storage. In the Cauvery basin, storage levels are also low, while the Krishna basin reservoirs stand at around 48 per cent. Of 3,817 minor irrigation tanks, 3,235 have less than 50 per cent storage,” he said. Start VB-G work to stop migration: DCM Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara expressed concern over the slow implementation of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), stating that work has not begun in most parts of Karnataka despite worsening drought conditions. Reviewing the drought situation, Parameshwara, who also holds the revenue portfolio, said 2,443 of the state’s nearly 5,000 gram panchayats are yet to start work under the employment scheme, with only four or five districts making progress. He directed all Zilla Panchayat CEOs to immediately commence the work to curb distress migration from districts such as Ballari, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir and Vijayanagara. Parameshwara said Karnataka has recorded a 68 per cent rainfall deficit, while groundwater levels have fallen by around four metres in 88 taluks. Reservoir levels are declining rapidly and the number of villages dependent on tanker water supply is increasing. Document all VB-G work: CM Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said amid the state’s continuing agitation against the Centre’s VB-G RAM G, the state has prepared to bear 40 per cent of its share. “The Centre has approved several schemes and informed us about works that can be taken up. As far as possible, we should focus on community development, infrastructure works and certain individual beneficiary schemes. Every work must be properly documented with all supporting records. Officials should be extremely careful and leave no loopholes,” he warned. He stressed that the state’s priority is to ensure that people do not migrate to other states in search of work. “They should be provided employment locally,” Shivakumar said. ENS Rahul Gandhi to visit soon The CM said LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Karnataka soon and address students, besides performing the bhoomi puja (foundation stone laying) for the new Congress office in Bengaluru. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
CM Revanth Reddy to Congress leaders: Stay off Gandhi Bhavan, hit the field for SIR
Revanth warned Congress leaders against skipping SIR form campaign work, saying inactive leaders would lose chances for nominated posts. HYDERABAD: In a blunt ultimatum to underperforming party workers, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed Congress leaders to stay away from Gandhi Bhavan and take to the field during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, warning that those who remained inactive would not be considered for nominated posts. In a no-holds-barred Zoom meeting on Sunday, Revanth told party leaders not to visit the state Congress headquarters until the August 3 deadline for submitting SIR Enumeration Forms. Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of field-level participation, he said chairmanships and other nominated posts would not be given to leaders who remained inactive during the campaign. He also announced that the 100 best-performing BLAs would be given an opportunity to click a photograph with Rahul Gandhi. Revanth directed the in-charge ministers to supervise the SIR exercise and said a constituency-wise review would be held on July 30. He warned MPs appointed as SIR in-charges that strict action would be taken if they failed to discharge their responsibilities. With the deadline extended to August 3, he said the additional time should be used to intensify outreach. A separate review with the 10 in-charge ministers will be held on Monday, while MPs have been asked to conduct periodic reviews even during the ongoing session. Revanth said the Congress had organised 489 SIR meetings across the 119 Assembly segments but stressed that attention was needed in the weakest-performing ones. He told MLAs, constituency in-charges and corporation chairpersons to scrutinise reports submitted by BLAs instead of relying solely on BLO reports. Stating that the presence of party leaders in the field was mandatory, he directed ministers, MLAs, corporation chairpersons, constituency in-charges and SIR coordinators to tour their respective areas over the next 10 days. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
How did the opposition’s plan fail? A single move by Asim Arun quelled the Meerut Dalit student Lalita Gautam murder case.
The BJP quelled the Meerut Dalit student murder case as quickly as the opposition had raised it. Minister Asim Arun was behind this thorough planning. The opposition was constantly cornering the government The victim’s family met with CM Yogi Asim Arun kept an eye on the entire case Shadab Rizvi, Meerut: The atmosphere created by the opposition against the government and police regarding the murder of Lalita, a Dalit student in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has cooled just as quickly. Lalita’s family’s anger has suddenly subsided. This was made possible by the strategy of Asim Arun, a former bureaucrat and minister to the UP CM. Asim Arun’s sympathy maneuver, arranging a meeting with the CM and securing help, defeated all the opposition politicians who had appeared aggressive on the issue. A Look at the Opposition’s Strategy The family of Lalita Gautam, the student, wanted strict action against the murderer. The family was upset with the delay in arresting the accused. The police’s handling of the situation had angered the district police as well as the government. Dalit leaders from opposition parties and organizations called a Mahapanchayat to address Lalita’s family’s anguish. Everyone expressed their displeasure with the government and police. The situation escalated to a confrontation. Police and protesters clashed. FIRs were filed, and arrests were made. The issue became a topic of discussion across the country. BSP chief Mayawati, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Azad Samaj Party President Chandrashekhar, and numerous other leaders attacked the government and police. Leaders from several parties, including Chandrashekhar Azad and Congress state in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, attempted to visit the village and meet the victim’s family. SP President Akhilesh Yadav met the victim’s family in Delhi and provided assistance of two lakh rupees. This move and assistance from the opposition unnerved the ruling BJP. Aseem made his move and made things easier. Aseem Arun, Minister of Independent Charge in the UP government, is also the Minister in charge of Meerut. He is pursuing politics after resigning from the post of ADG in the police department. His father, Shriram Arun, was the former DGP of Uttar Pradesh. At the time when Meerut was in turmoil over the Lalita incident, with people demanding the summoning of the minister in charge, Minister Aseem Arun was constantly having three BJP leaders send every media report on the incident to Lucknow. He is working on a strategy to ensure that the anti-Dalit atmosphere does not harm the BJP. According to a BJP leader close to Aseem Arun, the minister had asked everyone not to issue statements, to remain calm, and to monitor every activity. By demanding a report from the Meerut police on the very first day, he sent a message to the public that he was active. To appease the family, he issued a statement alleging a lapse on the part of the Meerut police. He also sent a message to the family through Dalit leaders associated with the party in Meerut that the government would soon help them and provide justice. He did not fall for anyone’s deception. The script for meeting and helping the CM was written like this: According to a state BJP official, Aseen Arun spoke with the CM and arranged a meeting with the victim’s family in Lucknow. However, due to the CM’s frequent visits to West UP districts like Bijnor, Shamli, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Amroha, and Sambhal, the family’s trip to Lucknow was postponed. It was decided to arrange a meeting in a district closer to Meerut. Before the Bijnor-Shamli visit, Minister-in-Charge Aseem Arun arrived in Meerut. He spoke with officials about the Lalita case, met with BJP Dalit leaders, assured the victim’s family of justice, and convinced them to meet the CM. Initially, a meeting in Shamli was discussed, but after Shamli, the CM had to travel to Bijnor. Due to his busy schedule, it was decided that the CM would stay in Ghaziabad and arrange the meeting there before heading to Bulandshahr for a public meeting. This is exactly what happened. In Ghaziabad, the victim’s family met with the CM along with Aseen Arun. The CM approved Aseem’s plan. On Aseem Arun’s recommendation for financial assistance, the CM ordered a grant of five lakh rupees, which was disbursed within a few hours. The student’s uncle and father were promised a house under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme, and two private sector jobs for the family. The CM also allayed their grievances with the police by promising strict punishment for the culprits. After arranging a meeting with the CM and providing financial assistance, the victim’s family was given a statement in the media, conveying that they no longer have any complaints and are satisfied. Political analysts believe that this move by Yogi’s former bureaucrat minister has thwarted the campaign launched by opposition parties and organizations against the government. Edited by: Vivek Mishra About the Author Vivek Kumar Mishra is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online (NBT.Com). He monitors the political developments in Uttar Pradesh. He provides UP political analysis and tracks events in Uttar Pradesh. Courtesy: Hindi News
CPI(M) accuses governments of neglecting dalits, warns of protests for house site pattas
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao on Sunday (July 19, 2026) accused the Union and State governments of neglecting the welfare of Dalits, tribals, and economically weaker sections. He said that the party would intensify its agitation for the allotment of house site pattas and implementation of welfare schemes. Mr. Babu Rao visited Devineni Gandhipuram in Payakapuram under Vijayawada’s 61st Division, where he and other CPI(M) leaders interacted with residents and reviewed civic and welfare issues. According to a press release by the CPI(M), the residents alleged that successive governments had failed to issue house site pattas despite repeated assurances. They also claimed that the allotment of TIDCO houses and house sites for the poor had remained confined to announcements. The residents further alleged that the scheme providing up to 200 units of free electricity to Dalit and tribal households was not being implemented effectively and complained of delays in extending welfare schemes, loans, and other benefits meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Later, addressing the gathering, Mr. Babu Rao alleged that while the government was allocating vast tracts of land to corporate entities, it had failed to confer ownership rights on poor families who had been living in the colonies for decades. He accused public representatives and officials of delaying the issuance of pattas on one pretext or another. He also criticised the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation for focusing on the beautification of major roads while neglecting civic infrastructure and basic amenities in peripheral localities inhabited by the poor. Government and municipal lands were allegedly being encroached upon even as landless families continued to await house sites, he alleged. CPI(M) central city secretary Bhupathi Ramana Rao, committee member Ch. Srinivas and local leaders Melika Srinivas, Venkateswara Rao and Suribabu were among those present. G V R Subba Rao G.V.R. Subba Rao Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
YSRCP extends Rs 10 lakh aid to Dalit youth’s family
Vijayawada: The YSRCP on Sunday extended financial and humanitarian assistance to the family of Dalit youth Kranthi Kumar, who allegedly died by suicide following police harassment in Krishnalanka. Acting on the directions of YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, senior party leaders handed over Rs 10 lakh in financial assistance to the bereaved family. The assistance was handed over by YSRCP NTR district president Devineni Avinash, former MLAs Malladi Vishnu, Monditoka Jagan Mohana Rao and TJR Sudhakar Babu, former MP Nandigam Suresh, and SC Cell State working president Kommuri Kanaka Rao. The party also announced that it would bear the educational expenses of Kranthi Kumar’s three children. Of the total assistance, Rs 5 lakh was deposited in the name of his daughter, while Rs 2.5 lakh each was deposited in the names of his two sons. YSRCP further assured free medical treatment for Kranti Kumar’s son, who is reportedly suffering from a spinal tumour and has been shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad. Addressing the media, YSRCP leaders alleged that the coalition government had failed to ensure justice for the victim’s family and attempted to suppress the case initially. They claimed that the case was booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act only after the intervention of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The leaders further alleged that the government had failed to provide statutory benefits, including compensation, employment to the victim’s wife and other welfare assistance. They demanded the immediate arrest of Circle Inspector Nagaraju, who has been named in the case, and asserted that the party would continue to support the family and pursue justice until those responsible are brought to book. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Tamil Nadu prepares to establish a separate police station for SC/ST cases, identifying areas affected by untouchability | TM Special
On the instructions of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, the state government has sought a report from the DGP. Chennai – The Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant administrative step in matters related to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and has initiated the process of identifying and establishing special SC/ST police stations in areas where incidents of untouchability-related atrocities are high. This action was initiated following a directive from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Currently, five states in the country have a total of 145 special police stations for the speedy and effective investigation of cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Madhya Pradesh leads with 51 special police stations. The case relates to a petition filed by S. Venkatesan, a resident of Sunnambedu in Chengalpattu district and associated with the Neelam Cultural Centre. In his complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on June 13, 2025, Venkatesan demanded that the state government officially designate areas where such incidents are most frequent as “Areas Prone to Untouchability Atrocities.” He also demanded the immediate establishment of dedicated SC/ST police stations in these areas. Speaking to The Mooknayak, Venkatesan stated that the situation of caste-based atrocities in Tamil Nadu is complex and concerning at all three levels: social, legal, and political. Although the state is known for its progressive politics and Dravidian movements, caste discrimination and violence remain a serious challenge at the grassroots level. Taking cognizance of this complaint, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes issued a letter dated June 23, numbered APCR/OL/TN/2025/304819, directing the Tamil Nadu government to take necessary action. Following this, the Tamil Nadu Home Department issued letter number 12738/Police.15/2026-1 on July 7, 2026. This letter was issued by Deputy Secretary (Home Department), M. Srinan, and addressed to the Director General of Police, Chennai, and the Inspector General of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights Wing. The letter attached a copy of the complaint received from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, urging the concerned officials to take necessary action in the matter. The Home Department directed that a detailed report of the action taken on the complaint be sent directly to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Chennai, and a copy be provided to the complainant, S. Venkatesan, and the state government. The letter also categorized the matter as “urgent,” directing that action be taken with special priority and that the Commission be promptly provided with an appropriate response. It is noteworthy that the main request of Venkatesan’s petition was that areas where incidents of untouchability and caste-based atrocities are frequently reported should be designated as a separate category and that special SC/ST police stations should be established there to ensure effective investigation and prompt action in cases related to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. What do NCRB data say? According to data presented in Parliament by the Ministry of Home Affairs and NCRB, Tamil Nadu has seen a steady increase in cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. From approximately 1,274 cases registered in 2020, this number increased to over 1,700 to 1,800 by 2022-2023. Compared to the national level, the conviction rate for caste-based crimes in Tamil Nadu has been quite low (approximately 8% to 13%), while the pendency of cases remains over 80%. Major Forms of Caste Crimes Honor Killings: Violence against inter-caste marriages or love relationships (especially between non-Dalit women and Dalit men) is a major issue in Tamil Nadu. Such incidents are frequently reported in districts such as Tirunelveli, Madurai, Thanjavur, and Krishnagiri. Social Exclusion and Untouchability: Social barriers such as the “two-cup system” (separate cups for Dalits and non-Dalits at tea shops), restrictions on access to cremation grounds, temple entry bans, and the prohibition of Dalit sarpanches from performing administrative functions still persist in many rural areas of the state. Inhumane Harassment: Polluting water tanks (such as the Vengaivayal case), contaminating public drinking water sources, and social boycott of settlements have emerged as inhumane methods of demonstrating caste dominance. Caste Tension at the School/Educational Level: Reports of students wearing different-colored caste bands and violent clashes within schools in the southern districts of the state (such as Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi) have also become a matter of concern. The Social Justice and Human Rights (SJ&HR) wing under the Tamil Nadu Police Department is active, identifying and monitoring vulnerable areas prone to caste tensions. Highlighted Caste Crime Cases in Recent Years Prominent cases of atrocities and honor killings against the Scheduled Caste (SC/ST) community in Tamil Nadu in recent years include the Kavin Selvaganesh case in Tirunelveli (July 2025), where a 27-year-old Dalit software engineer was murdered in broad daylight for his love affair with an upper-caste woman. The Praveen murder case in Pallikaranai, Chennai (February 2024), in which a 26-year-old Dalit man was murdered by his inter-caste wife’s brother and associates. The Aishwarya murder case in Thanjavur (January 2024), where a 19-year-old woman was honor-killed by her own family for marrying a Dalit man, Naveen. The Uthangarai case in Krishnagiri (2023), in which a father (Dandapani) brutally murdered his own son, Sabash, for marrying an inter-caste Dalit woman, Anusuya. The Vengaivayal case (2023) in Pudukkottai, where the inhumane and serious caste crime of harassing an entire community by mixing human excreta into a water tank that supplied drinking water to a Dalit settlement, was exposed. Special Police Stations Exist Only in These States According to the latest data from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a total of 145 Special Police Stations have been established in five states across the country for the speedy and effective investigation of cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Madhya Pradesh leads the network of these special police stations with 51, followed by Bihar with 40, Chhattisgarh with 27, Jharkhand with 24, and Kerala with three. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Chirag Paswan’s LJP(R) To Contest Punjab Assembly Elections In 2027; Eyes Dalit Votes
Patna: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has announced that his party will contest the Punjab Assembly elections expected to be held early next year. Wearing a kesariya (saffron) colour Sikh turban, the Union Minister made this announcement on Sunday evening after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. “Our party will enter the Punjab Assembly polls with full preparations to register its strong presence. We have launched the election preparation at the pious land of Punjab after taking blessings at the Golden Temple. We have taken a vow to serve the people of the state and strengthen our organisation,” Chirag, accompanied by his mother Reena Paswan, said. The Union Minister asserted that the LJP(R) would expedite the expansion of its network across the northern state, increase the activity of its workers and intensify its mass public contact programme. He added that all preparations for the polls would be completed at a swift pace. “We will go to the people with the issues of public service, development, and social justice. The LJP(R) will carve out a strong identity with the help of the people of Punjab and the hardwork of the party workers,” he added. The LJP(R) is a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments at the Centre and in Bihar. It has a strong support base among the Scheduled Castes (SC) in the eastern state. Its founder, former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, was an eminent Dalit leader and the party has excelled as a progressive organisation under the leadership of his son Chirag Paswan. Chirag also visited the Jallianwala Bagh to pay floral tributes to the martyrs’ memorial there, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, which is a Ravidasia or Ramdasia Dera, Bhagwan Valmiki memorial and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at Jalandhar. While travelling from Amritsar to Jalandhar, the LJP(R) chief stopped his convoy after noticing an injured young woman lying on the roadside near Dera Sachkhand Ballan. He immediately instructed his team to shift the injured woman to a hospital in his vehicle and ensured that she received prompt medical attention. The LJP(R) president’s visits indicate that he is seeking to woo the SC voters in Punjab. The state has around 32 percent Dalit population, the highest proportion among all the states in the country. Punjab has 39 Dalit castes, among which the Mazhabi Sikhs, Ravidasias or Ramdasias, Ad-Dharmis, and Valmikis account for about 84 percent. A majority of the SC population in the state is predominantly rural. Its highest concentration is in the Doaba region – the land between the Beas and Sutlej rivers. Incidentally, Chirag has strong personal links also with Punjab. His mother Reena (maiden name Reena Sharma) hails from Amritsar. Then an airhostess, Reena married Ram Vilas in 1982 as his second wife. Chirag Paswan is also known to have several relatives and friends in Punjab. His personal security detail includes several bodyguards from there. By Dev Raj Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A Dalit man died after being beaten by goons at a cowshed in Amethi. A case has been filed based on a family complaint.
The family alleges the death was due to injuries sustained during the assault; police are investigating. Amethi: A Dalit man was found injured in a cowshed in the Dandupur village council on Sunday. Villagers rushed him unconscious to the local CHC, where doctors declared him dead. The family alleges the death was due to injuries sustained during the assault. Police have filed a case and begun an investigation based on the family’s complaint. Sahab told police that his father, Ram Dulare (a resident of Barnapur, Inhauna), a leather contractor, left home for the area at 6 a.m. on Sunday. He went to the cowshed in the Dandupur village council at 4 p.m. for some work. He then got into an argument with Rajesh, a worker at the cowshed. Dalit dies after being beaten by goons! In the ensuing altercation, Rajesh and his associates attacked him with sticks, causing serious injuries. Nearby residents took him to Singhpur CHC, where doctors declared him dead upon initial examination. The hospital informed the police about the incident. Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the scene. They informed the family, prepared an inquest report of the body, and began further investigation. The police’s preliminary investigation revealed no significant injury marks on the deceased. Tiloi Circle Officer Dinesh Mishra stated that the inquest report has been prepared and the body has been sent for postmortem examination. No injury marks were found on the body. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family, a case has been registered and an investigation has begun. Courtesy: Hindi News
Attempted rape case in Barhalganj: On the orders of the SSP, a case has been registered against two named individuals based on the complaint of a Dalit woman.
Barhalganj. On the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Kaustubh, a case has been registered against two individuals late Saturday evening based on the complaint of a Dalit woman in Madaria village, under the Barhalganj police station area. They have been charged with attempted rape, assault, intimidation, and various sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victim stated in her complaint that on July 5, 2026, at around 8 p.m., she had gone to the toilet behind her house when two young men from the same village arrived. The woman alleges that the two men, using casteist slurs, grabbed her, tore her clothes, and attempted to outrage her modesty. When the woman raised an alarm, her family members arrived at the scene, after which the two accused fled, threatening to kill her. The victim stated that the incident was immediately reported to the local police station, but no action was taken. She subsequently complained to the Senior Superintendent of Police. On the instructions of the SSP, the Barhalganj police have registered a case against the accused under sections 75, 76, 352, and 351(3) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3(1)(d), 3(1)(g) and 3(2)(va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and have begun an investigation. Station House Officer Atul Kumar Srivastava stated that further legal action will be taken based on the investigation. Attempts were made to contact the accused, but their version could not be obtained. Once their version is obtained, it will be published prominently. Rajiv Jaiswal | Barhalganj, Gorakhpur Courtesy: Hindi News
CM DK Shivkumar, Dy CM Dr G Parameshwara meet Kharge, cabinet expansion likely by Wednesday
The high command may announce the list of new ministers by Tuesday evening, sources informed TNSE. BENGALURU: With AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge returning to New Delhi, the much-awaited expansion of the DK Shivkumar cabinet has gained momentum. If all goes well, the new ministers could take the oath on Wednesday, highly placed sources told The New Sunday Express. There, however, is no clarity as yet whether all 20 vacancies will be filled or a couple of them will be kept vacant anticipating potential dissidence after the expansion. “The Congress high command can no longer defer the expansion exercise as there is a lot of pressure from the legislators, mainly to address the prevailing drought in the state,” informed sources added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar called on Kharge in Bengaluru on Saturday and accompanied him to Kempegowda International Airport. When Shivakumar, his predecessor Siddaramaiah, and KPCC president BK Hariprasad held talks with the Congress top brass, including LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi, Kharge was in Bengaluru. According to party insiders, Kharge has been favouring new faces such as Raichur North MLA Basanagouda Daddal, Jewargi MLA Dr Ajay Singh, son of former CM late N Dharam Singh, Kalaburagi North MLA Kaneez Fatima, AR Krishnamurthy, MLC Manjunath Bhandary from Dakshina Kannada, and MLC A Vasanthkumar from Raichur. Meanwhile, Shivakumar has been pushing the names of former Deputy CM and Athani MLA Laxman Savadi, Anekal MLA Shivanna, Hoskote MLA Sharath Bachegowda, Gubbi MLA SR Srinivas, Arsikere MLA KM Shivalinge Gowda, Haliyal MLA RV Deshpande, Narasimharaja MLA Tanvir Sait, Hanagal MLA Srinivas Mane, and MLC Dr Arathi Krishna. If Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad are not made ministers, they are likely to be appointed as the CM’s political secretaries, sources added. Meanwhile, former CM Siddaramaiah has been pushing the names of T Narasipur MLA Dr HC Mahadevappa, Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra, Kanakagiri MLA Shivaraj Tangadagi, Malavalli MLA PM Narendraswamy, Kalghatgi MLA Santosh Lad, Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao, Yelburga MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy, Hosadurga MLA BG Govindappa, Ramdurga MLA Ashok M Pattan, Chamarajanagar MLA C Puttarangashetty, and Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna. Also, MLAs SN Narayanaswamy (Bangarpet), Vijayanand Kashappanavar (Hungund), Appaji CS Nadagouda (Muddebihal), and Laxmi Hebbalkar (Belagavi Rural) are strong contenders. Former ministers Dr MC Sudhakar and TB Jayachandra are pinning their hopes on the high command to consider their track record and make them ministers. Meanwhile, KPCC president BK Hariprasad himself has emerged as a frontrunner for a cabinet berth besides proposing the names of some of his choices. But the high command has gathered information on its own from sources and also a survey conducted by the party’s election strategist, Sunil Kanugol. According to Congress insiders, the party may consider the winnability of legislators in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Kharge is likely to hold talks with Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries (organisation) KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala to arrive at a decision. On Monday, Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and Hariprasad are likely to be called to Delhi for a final round of talks. The high command may announce the list of new ministers by Tuesday evening, sources informed TNSE. Senior Congress leader and Aland MLA BR Patil may be made the Assembly speaker, sources added. Deputy CM meets Kharge Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara also paid a courtesy call to Kharge along with Shivakumar. “I had a cordial meeting with Kharge. During the meeting, we discussed various important matters, including the current political developments in the state, administrative issues, and matters relating to the strengthening of the party organization,” the minister posted on the social media platform ‘X’. Devaraj B Hirehalli Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights