Both Congress and BJP bet on big wins in Karnataka
BANGALORE: The ruling Congress in Karnataka is looking for a big win from a sharply bipolar race in the state in an outcome that could also have a bearing on chief minister Siddaramaiah’s standing within the party. Exit polls on Karnataka have projected conflicting trends, some giving anxiety and others hopes both for the Congress and BJP, the principal opposition which is gung ho about a comeback after losing its first ever government in the south in the May assembly polls last year. It is a high-stake election for Siddaramaiah for whom the party should reach the respectable tally of at least 15 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats for him to continue to have a trouble-free power ride for some more time to come. Siddaramaiah has been dismissive about exit poll numbers some of which have given a clear edge to BJP while some others for his party. In the 2009 polls, BJP bagged 19 seats, Congress six and JDS 3. Two subsequent bypolls saw the Congress increase its tally to eight at the expense of JDS. “Which one should I believe”, the chief minister has wondered, even as he hopes that some of the flagship populist schemes of his government such as providing rice at Re 1 a kg to the poor would help shore up the numbers. On the other side, BJP already appears to be euphoric that it would see a turnaround in its fortunes after the bitter assembly polls debacle and more or less replicate the last Lok Sabha poll success. Three out of four exit polls forecast that the BJP would come up trumps in Karnataka with two surveys even projecting 18 seats for it and the other two up to 14. (PTI)
Kejriwal to reach Varanasi ahead of counting on Friday
Varanasi: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will arrive in the temple town this evening ahead of the counting day on Friday for the Lok Sabha elections held in a marathon nine phases spread over 35 days. The AAP chief will arrive here by a flight from New Delhi, and will even visit the counting centre at Paharia in the city, AAP media coordinator here, Prerna Prasad said. Nearly 8000 candidates, including top guns Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal had contested in the largest-ever electoral exercise held in Indian history. Anti-corruption crusader Kejriwal pitted against Modi, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate in Varanasi, is seeking to replicate this time, his electoral triumph in last year’s Delhi Assembly polls. The exit polls have meanwhile, projected that BJP will emerge as the single largest party. Election Commission said the counting exercise to be held at 989 counting centres is likely to be completed by 5 PM and trends will be available by 11 AM. By noon, a final picture could emerge on who would be the major players in the 16th Lok Sabha. AAP district convener, Devkant Verma expressing confidence in his party claimed, their party was quite hopeful that Kejriwal would win from Varanasi, as he had got a huge support from the people here. If Modi loses this Lok Sabha elections from here he would never turn back to the city but Kejriwal will remain here and will often visit the city whether he wins or loses, Devkant claimed. (PTI)
Court orders fresh study on Odisha river pollution
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha High Court has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct a fresh study on pollution in the Brahmani river, the second largest river in Odisha after the Mahanadi, a lawyer said Thursday. Dissatisfied with the report submitted by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OPCB), a division bench of the court Wednesday directed the CPCB to constitute a team of scientific experts and conduct a fresh probe, CPCB’s lawyer Bibhu Prasad Tripathy told IANS. Taking sue moto cognizance of a media report that the Brahmani river and its tributaries were being polluted due to rampant iron ore and chromite mining in the state’s Sukinda area of Jajpur district, the court had last month directed the OPCB to carry out a study in this regard and submit its report. The board which studied the air and water pollution April 22-24 in the region submitted its report in the court Wednesday. In its report the board stated that the pollution level is under manageable limits. “The division bench comprising Justice Indrajit Mohanty and Justice S. Parija expressed their displeasure at the report and directed the CPCB to constitute a team of scientific experts and conduct a fresh probe,” Tripathy said. (IANS)