1400 HRS. 

8th May, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Congress heading towards majority in Karnataka Assembly polls; Wins 62 seats out of 108 results declared so far; Leading in 58 constituencies; BJP wins 23 seats and leading in 17; JDS wins 15 and leading in 25.

• Prime Minister says, Congress victory in Karnataka is rejection of BJP's ideology.

• Both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine-die.

• Supreme Court rejects Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah's repatriation, saying he is yet to complete his jail term.

• Empowered Group of Ministers on Drought approves an additional assistance of 256 crore rupees for rejuvenation of orchards in drought-hit Maharashtra.

• Sensex gains over 60 points in afternoon trade; Rupee appreciates 5 paise against the dollar.

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The Congress is poised to return to power in Karnataka, with the party almost set to get a majority in the new Assembly. It has bagged 62 seats out of 108 results declared so far and leading in 58 other constituencies. There has been a neck and neck fight between the BJP and the JD(S). The BJP has won 23 seats and leading in 17 while the JD(S) has bagged 15 seats and leading in 25. Others have won 8 seats and leading in 8. The Congress has almost made a sweep in the BJP stronghold Dakshin Kannada leading in 7 constituencies out of 8. In Belgaum district, all the results of 18 constituencies have been announced. BJP has won 8, Congress 6, KJP 1, BSR (Congress) 1 and Independents 2.

Among the prominent candidates leading are, Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah in Varuna Constituency, former Chief Minister BS Yaddyurappa in Shikaripura Constituency, former Chief Minister SD Kumaraswamy, President of BSR Congress B. Sriramulu, former Union Minister MH Ambreesh of Congress in Mandya Constituency and Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar BJP in Hubli-Dharwad Central Constituency. Minister in the outgoing Assembly, Govind M. Karjol and Speaker of the outgoing Assembly KG Bopaiah, both BJP are leading.

Former President of State BJP, KS Eshwarappa and former Higher Education Minister and BJP candidate SA Ramadas, are trailing.

Former Union Minister CM Ibrahim lost in Bhadrawati constituency to his nearest rival Appaji Gowda, JDS. Former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa's Son Madhu Bangarappa (JDS) has won Sorab constituency. He defeated his elder brother S. Kumar Bangarappa (Congress).

Congress candidate Dr. Ajay Dharam Singh, son of former Chief Minister Dharam Singh has won from Jewargi constituency.

In Holenarasipura, JDS candidate, H.D. Revanna, sitting MLA and son of former Prime Minister, HD Deve Gowda is leading.

In Honnali, Shantana Gowda is leading. In Kapu, Lalaji R. Mendon of BJP is leading over his Congress rival Vinay Kumar Sorake. In Karkal, H. Gopal Bhandary of Congress is leading and in Kundapura, Srinivasa Shetty, Independent is leading. In Mangalore, UT Khader of Congress is leading over his BJP rival, Chandrahas Ullall.

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The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said that Congress victory in the Karnataka Assembly Elections is a rejection of BJP ideology. Dr. Singh was talking to reporters outside Parliament. He said party vice president Rahul Gandhi played a leading role in this election.

In reply to a question about corruption, Dr. Singh said, corruption is a grave issue as a whole and we should sit together and find a solution. The Prime Minister said, Food Security Bill is important piece of legislation and the government is committed to provide food security to the people.

Senior Congress leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has said that the people of Karnataka, both in rural and urban areas, have rejected the BJP.

"The match is over and the BJP has not only lost, they have had an innings defeat. Now, the BJP will blame the bat, the ball and the pitch. People have seen the real face of the BJP. Both Urban and Rural Karnataka have rejected them. The BJP stands fully exposed, and the people of Karnataka have sent a loud and clear message to the people of India."

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda led JDS, which had hoped to play the role of a kingmaker in Karnataka, today said, it would sit in the opposition. JDS state President and Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy told reporters in Bangalore that if people have blessed the party to sit in the opposition, it will sit in the opposition. 

"I am not disappointed. We will sit in the opposition and we will fight it. Day one itself I told, I am not a King and I am not a King maker. People will decide who will be the King maker or who will play the King maker's role."

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, Karnataka results are not the final one.

"The result of the Karnataka Assembly Elections is not the final result. There are many more Elections to come. If Congress thinks that the people have given them a mandate for corruption, then they are mistaken."

Accepting the defeat, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said that the party would make a detailed assessment of the situation.

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News Services Division will broadcast a special live bilingual Radio Bridge programme from 9.30 pm to 10.30 pm tonight on verdict of Karnataka assembly election. This programme can be heard on Rajdhani and FM Gold Channels.

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Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die today. Earlier the two Houses once again witnessed uproar.

In the Lok Sabha, members raised slogans and counter-slogans. When the bedlam prevailed for some time, Speaker Meira Kumar rose to request them to go back to their seats. They obeyed her this time, and order returned in the House. As the National Song was being rendered, one BSP member walked out of the House. The Speaker took exception to his behaviour and said she would take an appropriate action against the erring member.

When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at noon, papers were laid on the table of the House amidst slogan-shouting by the Opposition. Later, the House bid farewell to eight retiring members including the Prime Minister. Chairman Mohd. Hamid Ansari in his farewell address asked the members to assess the impact of their disruptive behaviour. He said, opinion on matters of concern should be voiced in an orderly manner to preserve the dignity of the House. He also asked members to ponder whether the balance between deliberations, legislation and accountability was lost due to regular disruption of the proceedings.

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Supreme Court today said that the issue of repatriation of injured Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay does not arise as he has not completed his jail term. The apex court has also sought explanation from Centre, J&K government why adequate steps not taken to prevent assault on Sanaullah.

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The Empowered Group of Ministers on Drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, today approved an additional assistance of 256 crore rupees for rejuvenation of orchards in drought-hit Maharasthra. However, the decision on extension of duty-free import of oilcakes to boost fodder supply was left to the Finance Ministry, which will take a call after assessing the demand and supply situation. The additional funds will be over and above 400 crore rupees already released under the National Horticulture Mission through a special scheme launched last month for rejuvenation of orchards in the drought-affected regions of Maharashtra. Under this scheme, the Centre will bear 50 per cent cost, while the rest will come from the farmer.

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 82 points, or 0.4 percent, to 19,971 in early trade, today, on continued foreign fund inflows, amid positive global markets. Later, the Sensex stood 64 points, or 0.3 percent in positive territory, at 19,953 amid volatile trade, a short while ago. The Sensex had gained over 310 points in the previous two trading sessions.

Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia had gained between 0.4 percent and 1.2 percent, today. Wall Street's Dow Jones Industrial Average had climbed 0.6 per cent, to close above the 15,000-mark for the first time in yesterday's trade, on optimism about the US economy.

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The rupee trimmed its initial gains, but was quoted still higher by five paise to 54.09 against the American currency on the back of sustained selling of dollars by exporters amid continued capital inflows into equities. Earlier rupee appreciated by 9 paise to 54.05 in early trade today. The rupee opened higher at 54.10 per dollar against yesterday's closing level of Rs 54.14 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange forex market.

A dealer said, Sustained capital inflows weighed the rupee sentiment.

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Here is the latest on the Karnataka Assembly elections:

Total Number of seats - 224

Polling held - 223

Results declared so far - 119

Congress won 64 and leading in 55

BJP won 28 and leading in 13

JD(S) won 17 leading in 23

KJP won 2 and leading in 5

And others 8 and leading in 8

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Results just in:

Janata Dal Secular State President, HD Kumaraswamy has won the Ramanagaram Constituency and Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate, R. Ashoka has bagged Padmanabanagar seat.

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The West Bengal government is contemplating a proposal to launch a social security scheme in the wake of Chit Fund scam in the state. Speaking in Kolkata a short while ago the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that the government is planning to launch the scheme in the wake of growing financial insecurity and to ensure proper safety of public money and its proper return. Ms. Banerjee said that if people keeps money in government scheme it will give them financial security along with timely return and they will not be cheated.

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Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to press for a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe into the 1984 riots in the capital. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Badal said his party has demanded that Government should not appoint its counsels for arguing the cases related to riots. Badal said he has also demanded action against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

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A Sri Lankan court today ordered release of 30 fishermen from Rameswaram. According to Fishermen Association sources in Rameswaram fishermen arrested last month by Srilanka Island Navy on charges of poaching.

President of Pamban Fishermen's Association U Arulanandam said they have received a communication stating that a court in Mannar has ordered the release of the fishermen. He said magistrate of the court Aananthi Kanagaraj had also ordered for returning of their seized boats.

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The government informed the Lok Sabha today that it is aware of reports that Pakistan is interested in setting up nuclear parks. This is reported to be as a means of attracting foreign investors interested in setting up private nuclear power plants. In a written reply, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur informed members that the stated reason for this is to meet that country’s growing energy requirements