UwidoNews

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday won five of the eight Karnataka assembly constituencies where by-elections had been held and realised its dream of ruling a southern state on its own. The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) bagged three seats, while the other main opposition Congress drew a blank.

The BJP candidates won from Hukkeri, Arabhavi, Karwar, Devadurga, and Doddaballapur while the JD-S emerged victorious in Maddur, Madhugiri and Turuvekere.

The stage is set for the 13th Oct 2009, assembly elections in Maharashtra where the ruling Congress-led alliance faces a stiff challenge from the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine for the control of one of India’s most industrialized states.

The Kerala budget for the financial year 2010-2011 which was presented this Friday at the Kerala State Assembly brought a mixed bag of emotions from the people of the state. While some points seemed to bring cheer, others seemed discouraging to specific industries and interested parties. The highlights are:

Tight security arrangements have been made across the country for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Maharashtra, where polling for 10 seats will be held. Out of the 10 constituencies, six constituencies fall in Mumbai while the remaining four are in adjacent Thane district.

Excitement is building up on the eve of the first session of the 13th Assembly. While the recharged Congress members, who rode to power on the crest of pro- YS Rajasekhara Reddy wave, are raring to go, Megastar Chiranjeevi too is eager to enter the portals of the Assembly for the first time, with his 17 MLAs, giving the lower house a touch of Tollywood glamour.

Congress candidates are ahead in 47 seats while INLD are leading on 25 seats. BJP and HJC are ahead in four seats each while others are leading in 10 constituencies.

The former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Shashi Tharoor, will be the Congress candidate from Thiruvananthapuram. While Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala is not among the contestants, three MLAs feature in the list of candidates

Malappuram- Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee leader Rajmohan Unnithan, who was taken into custody on Sunday night with a woman, has been granted bail on Monday. Rajmohan Unnithan was arrested from Manjeri near Malappuram district in Kerala after he was found with a lady under circumstances that fueled suspicions. Reportedly, locals residing in the area nabbed the Congress leader with the woman and later handed them over to the police authorities.

An exulting Congress party maintained power in Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh