JDS

In a boost to the ruling Congress in Karnataka, the party on Saturday swept the by-polls to three Assembly segments, causing a major setback to the BJP-JD(S) alliance in the state. The Congress has retained Sandur, the seat considered to be its strong hold, and has also bagged Shiggaon and Channapatna segments, which were earlier held by BJP and JD(S) respectively. The November 13 by-polls to Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly segments had witnessed a fierce fight between the ruling Congress and a combative BJP-JD(S) alliance. The by-polls to Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna were necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister Kumaraswamy of JD(S) to Lok Sabha in May elections. The by-polls witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S) which is part of the NDA alliance to

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the ruling Congress has made all necessary preparations for the November 13 Assembly by-polls in three segments in the state, and the candidates are likely to be announced later in the day. He said, while it has been decided to give Sandur ticket to Bellary MP E Tukaram's wife Annapurna, candidates for Shiggaon and Channapatna segments will be decided by the party. The last date for filing nominations is October 25, and the final date for withdrawal of papers is October 30. By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections. "We have made all the preparations (for bypolls), probably candidates may be announced today. The Sandur candidate has been decided, we will give the ticket to Tukaram's wife.

Accusing Narendra Modi-led NDA government of indulging in vendetta politics against opposition-ruled state governments including the one headed by him, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday rejected the opposition's demand for his resignation over the High Court dismissing his petition challenging Governor's approval for investigation against him in a site allotment case. Alleging opposition's conspiracy against him and his government, Siddaramaiah, while asserting that he will face them politically, said he will decide on his next course of action and legal fight after consulting legal experts and party leaders. "I still say I have done no wrong....." Earlier today, the HC dismissed his petition challenging Governor's approval for investigation against him in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case. He repeatedly pointed at the court order which stated that "The order (of HC) is read to be restrictive to an approval (for investigation) under ...

Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked as a domestic help at his house

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department has filed a charge sheet against former MP Prajwal Revanna for rape and his father and MLA H D Revanna for sexual harassment. The SIT, which is probing four cases against Prajwal, said the over 2,000-page charge sheet comprises the statements of about 150 witnesses. The charge sheet, submitted in a special court for public representatives, pertains to one of the cases involving alleged sexual assault on a domestic help of the family. The charge sheet contains spot inspection, biological, physical, scientific, mobile, digital and other relevant evidences which were gathered. Further, expert opinion was taken before filing the charge sheet, the SIT said. While the MLA Revanna, who is son of former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, has been charged with section 354 and 354 (A) of the IPC, his 33-year-old son Prajwal has been booked under sections 376, 376 (2)(K), 354, 354(A) and 354(B) of the

The combined Opposition, BJP and JD(S), on Friday continued their protest march, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam.' The week-long Bengaluru-Mysuru padayatre (foot march) has sought to highlight the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi. The seventh day of the 'Mysuru Chalo' protest march began at Srirangapatna in Mandya district, and is scheduled to cover a distance of 10 km. This even as the Congress is hosting a mega "Janandolana" convention at Maharaja's College Grounds in Mysuru today in support of Siddaramaiah and to counter the opposition's allegations and their foot march. BJP-JD(S) are scheduled to conclude their protest march on Saturday by holding a mega rally on reaching Mysuru. BJP state president and MLA B Y Vijayendra, former Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, former BJP national general ...

Kumarswamy was seen trying to block his nostrils with a piece of cloth. His shirt was drenched in blood when he was at the press conference

The opposition BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka on Sunday targeted the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, accusing it of having failed to provide immediate relief to those affected by flooding and landslides in several parts of the state, due to heavy monsoon showers. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka of BJP and Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today together visited rain and landslide affected areas in the districts, especially along the National Highway near Sakleshpur. While Ashoka claimed that the government was "dead" and too busy with scams to respond to the needs of the people, Kumaraswamy questioned the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues not visiting the affected areas so far. Monsoon rains in Karnataka since June have been 22 per cent above normal and have caused flooding and landslides, especially in coastal and malnad districts of the state. "Due to more rains this year there have been incidents of landslides and destruction, even deaths...

BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa on Thursday challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to dissolve the Karnataka Assembly and go for elections now and claimed that the saffron party will win 140 to 150 seats. He said the people of the state have rejected the 'useless guarantees', money and muscle power of the Congress government and opted for the BJP in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. "I challenge Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, if he has guts, then dissolve the Assembly and go for elections again. Then only you will know what your position is. If the elections are held, BJP will win 140 to 150 seats," the Lingayat strongman said during the BJP state special executive meeting organised at the Palace Grounds here. Karnataka has 224 Assembly and 28 Lok Sabha seats. The former chief minister said in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-JD(S) alliance won 19 seats and the BJP got a majority in 142 assembly segments. Just a year ago, the Congress had come to power by winning 134 seats, b

A court here on Saturday remanded former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual abuse of several women, to judicial custody till July 8. He was produced before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court judge after his four-day Special Investigation Team (SIT) custody ended today. On Monday, Prajwal Revanna was remanded to judicial custody till July 8. But, he was later sent to SIT custody till June 29 by the Magistrate court judge, after the police sought a body warrant through the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP). Four separate cases have been registered against the 33-year-old grandson of the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, all of which are being investigated by the SIT. Prajwal had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan constituency in the recently concluded LS polls. The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead o

Another FIR has been registered against former MP Prajwal Revanna on charges of sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation, police sources said on Tuesday. Along with him, three others, including former BJP MLA from Hassan Preetham Gowda has also been named in the FIR for allegedly sharing images captured by Prajwal during sexual harassment of the victim on a video call, they said. With the fresh FIR, this is the fourth case registered against Prajwal. "A fresh case has been registered by the SIT against Prajwal and three others. Former BJP MLA Preetham Gowda has also been named in the FIR," a police source confirmed to PTI. The case has been registered under sections 355 A (sexual harassment), 354 B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354 D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and 66 E (punishment for violation of privacy) of the Information Technology Act, according to the police sources. Meanwhile, Prajwal i

Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted anticipatory bail to Bhavani Revanna, mother of former JD(S) MP and rape accused Prajwal Revanna, in a kidnapping case involving one of the victims of her son's sexual assaults. The Court emphasised that Bhavani had already answered 85 questions during the investigation, making it unfair to claim she was not cooperating with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing sexual abuse cases against Prajwal. The SIT had sought her custody in connection with the kidnapping of a house-help in K R Nagar in Mysuru district, after she failed to attend questioning. Justice Krishna S Dixit, while allowing Bhavani's petition seeking anticipatory bail, urged that media trials be avoided and underlined the importance of not making unnecessary arrests of women, noting their central role in families. The judge also highlighted that the allegations of non-cooperation were unconvincing since Bhavani had already provided extensive responses during her

In May last year, when his party was defeated, many political observers saw it as an existential crisis for JD (S) and the 64-year-old Vokkaliga leader

Two-time chief minister and five-time MLA JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has once again demonstrated his political acumen by bagging a seat in the union council of ministers, despite his party joining the BJP-led NDA just last year. Since the time of its founding in 1999, the JD(S) has never formed a government on its own in Karnataka, but has been in power twice in coalition with both national parties despite being a junior partner -- for 20 months with the BJP from February 2006 and for 14 months with the Congress after the May 2018 assembly polls. Kumaraswamy was chief minister on both occasions. The son of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has now managed to secure a cabinet berth by allying with the BJP, at a time when his party was fighting the "battle for survival". The 64-year-old Vokkaliga leader has made no secret of his desire to become agriculture minister. By winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, the former CM has not only managed to regain the JD(S)'

Lok Sabha elections 2024: The BJP secured 240 seats in the general elections, while its allies won the remaining 53. See full list of NDA winners here

Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video released on May 27, said that he will appear before the SIT on May 31 for questioning

Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested by the SIT probing the case, minutes after he landed from Germany here in the wee hours of Friday. The 33 year-old MP was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as soon as he returned to Bengaluru from Munich. A large number of policemen were deployed there to ensure that he was taken safely to police station for investigation. The MP returned to Bengaluru a month after the scandal broke out, only to be taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Forces sleuths, who later handed him over to the SIT. After the formalities, the SIT took him under its custody, sources said. Exactly a month after he left the country, Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had on May 27 released a video stating he will appear before the SIT on May 31.

Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, on Wednesday moved a Special Court here seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case registered against him. According to official sources, Prajwal has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30, and is expected to land in the city in the small hours of May 31. His advocate filed an anticipatory bail application in the Special Court for cases involving MPs/MLAs. Prajwal, grandson of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, is accused in an alleged rape and sexual harassment case involving a 47-year-old woman. He reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan LS seat went to polls, and is still at large. A Special Court for Elected Representatives has issued an arrest warrant on May 18 against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT. However, later the SIT arrested his father and JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, who is allegedly involved in kidnapping t

JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, who turned 92 on Saturday, broke his silence over the sexual abuse charges levelled against his grandson and MP Prajwal Revanna and said he has no objection to the action taken against him if found guilty. However, he said the cases against his son and JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and kidnap of a woman, were "created", but refrained from commenting further, as the matter was subjudice. Recently, Gowda had announced his decision not to celebrate his birthday and requested well wishers and party workers to wish him from wherever they are. "... I don't want to comment on things that are going on in the court regarding Revanna. Prajwal Revanna has gone abroad, regarding that Kumaraswamy (Gowda's other son and state JD(S) chief) has on behalf of our family said it is the duty of the government to take action in accordance with the law of the land," Gowda said. Addressing reporters here, the former PM said, "There are .

A Special Court for Elected Representatives on Monday granted bail to JD(S) MLA H D Revanna in connection with a kidnap case. The 66-year-old former Minister was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in an alleged case of abduction of a woman, linked to the allegations of sexual abuse of women by his son and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, on May 4. The special court judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat heard the matter and granted conditional bail to Revanna. His three-day police custody ended on May 8, following which he was produced in the XVII Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which remanded him to seven days' judicial custody, till May 14. The case was registered following a complaint by the woman's son, who alleged that his mother was sexually abused by Revanna's son Prajwal. The woman was allegedly abducted to prevent her from testifying against Prajwal, police sources have said. The SIT has also secured the custody of Revanna's confidant Sathish Babanna in ...