19:51 Kumaraswamy to be sworn in as Karnataka CM on Monday morning: Janata Dal-Secular’s H D Kumaraswamy has said that his swearing-in as Karnataka chief minister will take place on Monday morning.
His comment came shortly after he met Governor Vajubhai Vala and staked claim to the government after BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa quit on the floor of the Karnataka assembly before the trust vote.
The JD-S leader said that the governor has given 15 days to prove his majority.
Kumaraswamy said that senior leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, BSP’s Mayawati, SP’s Akhilesh Yadav have been invited for the event.
Asked about further details about the ministers and the plan for the future, the JD-S strong man said that they would be sitting down with Congress leaders tonight and mapping out future plans.
19:37 Here’s what the guests at the Royal wedding are eating:
Below is what the 600 or so guests are tucking into at the reception, according to Kensington Palace.
Canaps, including:
— Scottish Langoustines wrapped in Smoked Salmon with Citrus Crme Fraiche
— Grilled English Asparagus wrapped in Cumbrian Ham
— Garden Pea Panna Cotta with Quail Eggs and Lemon Verbena
— Heritage Tomato and Basil Tartare with Balsamic Pearls
— Poached Free Range Chicken bound in a Lightly Spiced Yoghurt with Roasted Apricot
— Croquette of Confit Windsor Lamb, Roasted Vegetables and Shallot Jam
— Warm Asparagus Spears with Mozzarella and Sun-Blush Tomatoes
Bowl food including:
— Fricassee of Free Range Chicken with Morel Mushrooms and Young Leeks
— Pea and Mint Risotto with Pea Shoots, Truffle Oil and Parmesan Crisps
— Ten Hour Slow Roasted Windsor Pork Belly with Apple Compote and Crackling
Sweet canaps including:
— Champagne and Pistachio Macaroons
— Orange Crme Brle Tartlets
— Miniature Rhubarb Crumble Tartlets
Image: The wedding cake created by Claire Ptak which will be served to the guests at the reception. Photograph: @KensingtonRoyal/Twitter
19:25 Javadekar mocks Rahul Gandhi for claiming victory:
The Bharatiya Janata Party took on Rahul Gandhi’s comments in the wake of BS Yeddyurappa’s resignation as Karnataka chief minister on Saturday, calling some of the Congress president’s statements “laughable” and “derogatory”.
An alliance between the Congress and The Janata Dal-Secular is set to form the government in the state after the BJP leader’s resignation ahead of a Supreme Court-ordered trust vote in the Karnataka assembly.
“This is the most opportunistic alliance you’ve seen,” BJP spokesperson and Human Resource development minister minister Union minister Prakash Javadekar said at a press conference on Saturday. “Rahul Gandhi (Congress president) made derogatory remarks about HD Deve Gowda (JD-S chief), called it the B-team of BJP. Aren’t they now the B team of Congress?”
Javadekar also said the Congress-JD-S alliance was not based on ideology and alleged there was a deal between the two parties to ignore each other’s corruption.
He hit out at Gandhi for saying at a press conference that the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were subverting the institutions of the country. “It is the Congress that is subverting the judiciary and the Constitution.”
“Rahul Gandhi claims the Congress has defeated the BJP is laughable, because the Congress has actually lost out. They have been reduced to 78 seats,” Javadekar said.
19:12 JUST IN: JD-S’s HD Kumaraswamy will meet Governer Vajubhai Vala at 7.30 pm, to stake claim for forming government.
18:24 We are awaiting governor’s invite: Kumaraswamy:
Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy today said the Congress-JDS combine was not in a hurry and was awaiting an invitation from the Karnataka governor for government formation in the state.
“We are not in a hurry. We are waiting for an invitation from the governor,” he told reporters, soon after the BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to quit as Karnataka chief minister without facing the vote of confidence in the assembly.
Asked about the future course of action, Kumaraswamy said the leaders of the Congress and the JD-S would sit together and take a decision on it.
The Congress has already categorically stated that it will be a Kumaraswamy-headed government in the southern state.
The May 12 Karnataka assembly polls threw up a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with a tally of 104 seats, but falling short of a majority.
The Congress-JD(S) combine has staked the claim with the governor to form the government, saying they have 117 MLAs in the 224-member House, with an effective strength of 221.
Polling for two seats was not held due to various reasons, while Kumaraswamy won from two places.
The Supreme Court had yesterday ordered a floor test in the Karnataka assembly at 4 pm today, drastically slashing the 15-day window given by Governor Vajubhai Vala to Yeddyurappa to prove his majority.
18:20 Meghan’s dad is watching: ‘My baby looks beautiful’:
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, has spoken to TMZ, as his daughter Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, leaves the church with her new husband, Prince Harry.
Thomas Markle, who was originally expected to walk his daughter up the aisle, was unable to attend the wedding because of ill health.
“My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy.I wish I were there and I wish them all my love and all happiness,” he is quoted as saying to the American website TMZ.
18:12 Truth can never be defeated: Tejashwi on developments in K’taka:
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav today said truth can never be defeated and it will always defeat “a lie or liar”, after B S Yeddyurappa quit as the Karnataka chief minister without facing the floor test in the state assembly.
“Truth can never be defeated! Truth will always defeat a lie or liar! #KarnatakaFloorTest,” Tejashwi said in a tweet.
Tejashwi, the younger son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, had led a delegation of RJD, Congress, CPI-ML and HAM leaders to Bihar Governor Satya Pal Mallik yesterday to stake claim to form government in the state on the lines of Karnataka, where the single-largest party, the BJP, was invited to form the government, even though it fell short of a majority in the recently-concluded Assembly polls.
The RJD is the single-largest party in the 243-member Bihar assembly with 80 MLAs.
It is in alliance with the Congress in Bihar after the disintegration of the Grand Alliance ministry, headed by Nitish Kumar, in July last year.
— PTI
17:46 Sealed with a kiss!:
Prince Harry and Meghan emerged from the chapel — Household Cavalry lining the steps — and shared their first kiss as a married couple. The crowd cheered wildly.
Couples do not typically kiss in Church of England wedding ceremonies, but it has been tradition for royal couple to kiss publicly soon after for the world to see.
The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now off on their 25-minute journey through the streets of Windsor in an Ascot Landau carriage.
Afterwards they will return to the castle for the lunchtime reception.
Meanwhile, the guests are leaving the chapel.
17:18 PM Modi not bigger than India; hope BJP, RSS learn lesson, says Rahul: Shortly after Yeddyurappa resigned as Karnataka CM, paving the way for the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular combine to stake claim to the government, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress president, slammed the prime minister, accusing him of disrespecting the institutions of the country.
— People saw how BJP MLAs left the House before national anthem was played. It shows they don’t respect institutions
— PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah do not respect any institution
— The PM authorised buying off MLAs. He talks of fighting corruption, but he is corruption
— PM Modi not bigger than India, Supreme Court; hope BJP, RSS learn lesson
Thats no ordinary veil. Meghan wanted all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony and so Waight Keller created a veil embroidered with the flora of each one. Each three-dimensional flower is unique and embroidered onto the five-metre train by hand.
17:09 Prince Harry and Meghan exchange vows:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now standing face to face at the high altar, where they are saying their vows.
The marriage vows are taken from Common Worship, the Church of England’s standard liturgy, first published in 2000.
It is a break from tradition: For their 2011 wedding, Prince William and Kate Middleton chose a slightly amended version of the vows from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
Also a note here: Markle, a divorcee, has chosen not to read out the archaic part of the wedding vows about wanting to “obey” her husband and Prince Harry has chosen to have a wedding ring.
The fall of the three-day-old BJP government in Karnataka was a “victory of the regional front” and of democracy, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said soon after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote today.
The Trinamool Congress chief greeted JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy and the Congress.
“Democracy wins. Congratulations Karnataka. Congratulations DeveGowda Ji, Kumaraswamy Ji, Congress and others. Victory of the ‘regional’ front (sic),” she said in a tweet.
— PTI
16:41 Here comes the bride!: Meghan Markle is a beautiful bride in white.
Markles wedding dress has been designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller. Waight Keller last year became the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy.
Markle is also wearing Queen Marys diamond bandeau tiara.
Image: Meghan Markle with her mother Doria Ragland drive down the Long Walk as they arrive at Windsor Castle. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
16:36 ‘Operation Lotus fails, democracy wins in Karnataka’:
The BJP’s “Operation Lotus” to poach legislators from other parties has failed and democracy has won in Karnataka, the Congress said soon after Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign without facing a trust vote today.
Lotus is the poll symbol of the BJP.
Operation Lotus’ fails! #BSYeddyurappa remains 2 day CM as the country predicted, breaking his own record of being 7 days CM. Democracy Wins! Constitution Wins!(sic) Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted.
Former Union minister P Chidambaram also said that the democracy in Karnataka was saved for the time being.
Poor Mr Yeddyurappa. When the puppeteers fail, the puppet falls and breaks, he said on Twitter without naming the BJP’s central leadership.
Apparently falling short of a simple majority, Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as the chief minister the day before yesterday, announced on the floor of the House that he would not face confidence vote and that he was going to resign.
The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the state assembly polls, winning 104 seats.
The Congress and the JD-S won 78 and 37 seats respectively and announced a post-poll alliance as they staked claim to form government.
‘Operation Lotus’ refers to the BJP’s move during Yeddyurappa’s previous tenure as the chief minister to make MLAs of other parties resign and contest the elections and win again as the candidate of the saffron party.
— PTI
16:08 Yeddyurappa resigns as Karnataka CM ahead of floor test: The reign of BS Yedyurappa is over as he tendered his resignation in the Karnataka assembly ahead of the floor test.
Saying he was not greedy for power, Yeddyurappa said he quit and said that he will work hard to ensure that BJP wins 28 of the 28 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The floor test was always going to be tricky for Yeddyurappa to win as the BJP only had 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 78, Janata Dal-Secular with 37 and three seats have gone to others in the 224-member assembly where elections were held for 222 seats.
16:03 All over for Yeddyurappa? Karnataka CM hints he’s failed to gather numbers:
Shortly before Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s test of strength, he is addressing the house.
There was speculation that Yeddyurappa would resign but the BJP insisted he wasn’t going to resign.
Here are highlights from his speech:
— People have blessed us with 104 seats. The mandate wasn’t for Congress or JD-S
— Under the Congress government, the farmers of this state have not had water to drink or to give to their cattle
— I have travelled extensively across the state in the last two years
— Till the last breath of my life, I will go on working for the people of Karnataka
— — I will ensure farmers have a life of dignity. I wanted to allot Rs 1.5 lakh crore for irrigation, increase support price for farmers, and help the farm labourers. My heart beats with compassion
— BJP has faith in democracy
— Some people who had promised to support us, hasn’t done so
— In the 2019 elections, BJP will win 28 of the 28 seats.
“Now, let us enjoy our holidays,” this is how the Supreme Court concluded the hearing on the Karnataka power row today.
The court room burst into a bout of laughter as Justice A K Sikri, who headed the three-judge bench, made the jovial remark.
The court had been witnessing tensed, high-voltage arguments during emergency hearings on the bitter power tussle in Karnataka.
The Congress had moved the court against the appointment of K G Bopaiah, a three-time MLA, as pro-tem speaker. Traditionally, the pro-tem speaker is the longest standing member of the assembly.
The hearing began on a sombre note, with senior advocate Kapil Sibal apologising to the bench for troubling it on a Saturday, which is holiday for the court.
Justice Sikri, known for his gentle demeanour, said, “We have to do our constitutional duty.”
Sibal then said, “We would have never troubled you, but we had no option other than to do this, as established principles weren’t followed.”
After the court concluded dictating its order, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Congress- JD-S combine, told the bench, “In a lighter vein, we hope that we do not trouble you (judges) on Sunday.”
Justice Sikri was quick to respond: “That’s we were discussing.”
“We, ourselves, have that apprehension,” Justice Sikri said.
— PTI
15:00 Is Yeddyurappa going to quit ahead of trust vote? Congress seems sure of it:
With just an hour left for the crucial floor test in Karnataka assembly, Congress leader D K Shivkumar says, ”I am sure that he (Yeddyurappa) will himself resign before the trust vote. Anand Singh will definitely come and support Congress.”
His statement comes amid speculations in local media that B S Yeddyurappa may take the ‘1996 Vajpayee route’.
In 1996, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in by President Shankar Dayal Sharma as the Prime Minister. The BJP did not have numbers but decided to stake a claim and form the government. Vajpayee faced the trust vote, made an emotional speech and then decided to quit and drove down to Rashtrapati Bhavan to tender his resignation.
Pratap Gowda Patil, one of the Congress MLAs, who had gone missing, has come to the Karnataka assembly. According to Congress leader DK Shivakumar, “Patil will take oath as an MLA then he will vote for the Congress. He will not betray Congress party.”
Meanwhile, British PM Theresa May, who is not on the guest list today – no politicians have been invited — has sent her best wishes to Harry, Meghan.
“My very best wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day. To all of those joining the national celebration with street parties and other events, have a wonderful day,” she wrote on Twitter.
14:18 Royal Wedding guests arrive at Windsor Castle: For all the royal wedding fans, the moment is here.
People are already arriving on the Windsor Castle grounds. More than 2,600 people, including local students and charity workers who support causes close to the couple, will have a front row seat to the festivities on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Wedding guests — including our ‘desi’ girl Priyanka Chopra and tennis star Serena Williams will be at the wedding.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the Royal Family will make their way to Windsor Castle around 3.50 PM (IST). Soon after, Harry and best man Prince William will walk to the castle, while Markle and her mother Doria Ragland will arrive at the church by car.
Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
14:03 Congress releases new audio, says Yeddyurappa luring its MLA:
A day after Congress released an audio clip claiming that the BJP has been trying to bribe its newly-elected party MLAs — the party today released two new clips, one including BS Yeddyurappa itself.
Reportedly, BS Yeddyurappa has been caught trying to ‘lure’ Congress MLA BC Patil.
The call was reportedly made to the MLA when all the elected Congress leaders were being shifted to a resort in Kochi after the Governor invited Yeddyurappa to form the government and prove majority within 15 days. Patil, who told Yeddyurappa that he has confidence in the chief minister, said that he has three more MLAs under his influence.
Earlier, the party had released a similar audio tape, with BJPs Janardhana Reddy offering ministership to Congress MLA BasanagoudaDaddal, Ill arrange a meeting with the National President. Youll become a minister. Youll make 100 times the wealth you made so far.
The Karnataka election results which gave a fractured mandate, with none of the parties able to reach the magic numbers have resulted into the JD-S and Congress coming together and reaching the figures of 116 while BJP at 104 is scheduled to prove the majority at 4 pm.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka assembly has been adjourned till 3:30 pm.
13:58 SC decision on Karnataka trust vote showed governor was at fault: Sena:
The Supreme Court’s decision of slashing the 15-day window given to BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to prove majority showed that Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala had favoured the saffron party and he was at
fault, the Shiv Sena said today.
It also alleged that since the BJP has “money and muscle power”, it may win over some Congress and JD-S MLAs to prove majority in the southern state.
“The Karnataka power play reached the corridors of the Supreme Court, which virtually nullified the governor’s decision. Despite the BJP not having the clear majority, governor Vajubhai Vala hurriedly invited it to form the government and gave it 15 days time to prove majority,” the
Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.
“But the SC reduced the 15-day window and ordered it to be done within 24 hours. This shows that the governor had granted extra favours to Yeddyurappa. The SC decision of drastically slashing the 15-day window shows that the governor was at fault.
“The newly-elected members of the Karnataka assembly are yet to take oath. But ever before that the governor had nominated an Anglo-Indian member. Although it is the prerogative of the governor, given the political instability and the power play at work, it was an attempt to assure one
vote (to BJP),” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
— PTI
Image: Karnataka Governor Vajuabhai Vala administering the oath of office to BS Yeddyurappa.
Britain’s Prince Harry, who is set to wed American actress Meghan Markle today, has invited an orphan he befriended 14 years ago from the African kingdom of Lesotho for the wedding.
Mutsu Potsane was four when the then 19-year-old Harry struck up an instant rapport with him during a gap-year stay in the landlocked southern African country in 2004.
13:20 2 Congress MLAs missing as K’taka legislators take oath:
Newly sworn-in Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa will have to take a Supreme Court-ordered floor test by 4 pm on Saturday to confirm whether he enjoys the majority in the 224-member House he claimed in a letter to the governor.
Both BJPs Yeddyurappa and former CM Siddaramaiah, the leader of the Congress legislature party, say they are confident of their numbers.
Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh and Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking.
When asked about the missing MLAs, Congress leader Veerapa Moily says, “They know very well that they are 104, still they are trying everything and anything to buy our MLAs. But, our MLAs are intact. Two of our MLAs are still not here, whenever they come they will surely support us.”
12:58 Harry becomes the Duke of Sussex, Meghan to become Duchess of Sussex:
Harry becomes the Duke of Sussex with immediate effect but Meghan will not become the Duchess of Sussex until they are married.
A Buckingham Palace statement read: “The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.
“Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.”
12:42 JUST IN: Two Congress MLAs Anand Singh & Pratap Gowda Patil have not yet come to the assembly for oath-taking
12:29 Karnataka floor test: MLAs’ names to be written against votes:
A headcount of MLAs will be taken at the Karnataka assembly floor test ordered by the Supreme Court on Saturday at 4 pm. Each members name will be recorded in writing against his/her vote. For the first time this method will be used to conduct a floor test.
The last floor test in Karnataka was held in October 2011 when K G Bopaiah was the legislative assembly Speaker and B S Yeddyurappa was the chief minister. Secretary of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly secretariat S Murthy said each new MLA had been sent summons through WhatsApp and SMS to attend the assembly and participate in the vote of confidence to be taken by the two-day-old Yeddyurappa government.
They will also have to show identity cards before entering the assembly. After the MLAs are sworn-in, the CM will move a vote of confidence. We will take a headcount row by row. In each row, the MLAs will have to stand and signify if they support or oppose the confidence motion. We will record their votes in writing also, he said.
The legislature secretariat is taking extra pains to ensure that there is no doubt or confusion over the number of votes or who voted in which way. So other methods like voice vote or a show of hands have been kept out while the apex court itself ruled out a secret ballot.
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has asked MLAs to cast conscience votes as he is short by seven votes needed to prove majority in the assembly. Sources said efforts were on to prevent MLAs from coming to the Legislative Assembly and taking oath.
Hours before the floor test is set to begin in Karnataka assembly, Congress leaders said they have the numbers and ultimately they will form the government in the state in alliance with Janata Dal-Secular.
Before leaving for the assembly, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the numbers are against the Bharatiya Janata Party and expressed confidence that Congress-JD-S will form the government in the state.
“Numbers are against the BJP. Numbers are in favour of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the government,” Azad said.
Echoing similar sentiments, another Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Lok Sabha MP, said, “The BJP does not have the numbers; we will win the floor test. The BJP is just trying to prove their majority and they will fail to do so.”
— ANI
11:44 Karnataka floor test: ‘Most important objective was to establish transparency’: Following the Supreme Court’s order of keeping K G Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker for the floor test this evening in the Karnataka assembly and order for live telecast of the proceedings, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior lawyer and party leader said, “Most important objective was to establish transparency. Since the statement has come from ASG that live feed of proceedings would be given, we hope & trust there would be fairness.”
The Congress leader added, “I have no doubt that the victory would be of Congress & JD-S.”
Meanwhile, Mukul Rohatgi said, “The SC heard the pleas of the Congress, all their pleas have been rejected. The desperate attempts of Congress to remove him from post has failed. I think they are scared & did not even want a floor test in the first place.”
11:27 BS Yeddyurappa takes oath on the floor of Karnataka assembly: BJP’s B S Yeddyurappa has taken the oath on the floor of the Karnataka assembly. He was the first MLA to be sworn in, followed by former CM Siddaramaiah.
The oaths are now being given in batches, as the assembly begins to prep for the floor vote which will take place at 4 pm.
11:20 KG Bopaiah WILL remain as pro tem speaker: SC: The Supreme Court has rejected the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular’s plea challenging the appointment of KG Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker in the Karnataka assembly.
The Congress had asked the top court on Friday evening to cancel Bopaiah’s appointment by Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala because he had a dubious and controversial record.
Congress leaders say Bopaiah, as the assembly’s speaker, appeared to have been selected for his proven track record in helping Yeddyurappa survive the floor test in 2010.
Back then, Bopaiah, 62, had then famously disqualified five independent and 11 BJP lawmakers who rebelled against Yeddyurappa after he was charged in a mining scam. That ruling helped the BJP government of Yeddyurappa survive the trust vote ordered by the government.
11:12 To ensure transparency, SC directs live streaming from Karnataka assembly:
Whether BJP lawmaker KG Bopaiah is qualified to be the temporary speaker when Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa takes a trust vote in the Karnataka assembly is being heard by the Supreme Court this morning.
Here are the updates from the apex court:
— Kapil Sibal, who is appearing for the Congress and JD-S combine says, “The individual appointed must be the senior most member of the House which is a convention in the Parliament also.”
— He adds while making his case, “Long standing convention has been broken after the appointment of Bopaiah,” adds, “Even SC has ratified this practice in two judgments.”
— Justice SA Bobde says, “There’ve been instances where senior most MLA wasn’t appointed as Pro tem speaker. Kapil Sibal replies ‘KG Bopaiah has different history. His decision of disqualification was set aside by this Court earlier.”
— Kapil Sibal argues “I am requesting that don’t allow KG Bopaiah to take the floor test.”
— Justice Bobde remarks: “If you want us to examine his suitability, bonafide of Boppaiah, we have to issue notice to him. We must then postpone the floor test.”
— — SC says “Law can’t direct the Governor to appoint a particular person as Pro-tem Speaker. Unless convention becomes legal norm, it can’t be enforced by Court.”
— Supreme Court says, “Live broadcast of floor test would be the best way to ensure transparency of proceedings.”
10:56 19 people killed as truck overturns in Gujarat:
Sixteen labourers and three children were killed and six others injured after a truck they were travelling in overturned at Bavaliyari village near Dholera in Ahmedabad early today, police said.
The accident took place on Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar highway when the cement-laden truck was coming from Pipavav Port in Bhavnagar district, police said.
“There were 25 labourers travelling in the truck. The vehicle turned turtle early morning and 19 labourers were crushed to death,” Ahmedabad Superintendent of Police R V Asari said.
The deceased included 12 women and three children, he said, adding that while 18 of them died on the spot, another one died in a hospital.
Six injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, the officer said.
“The accident seems to have taken place as the driver of the truck lost control over the vehicle. After the mishap, the driver escaped from the spot and a search has been launched to trace him,” Asari said.
Further investigation is underway. PTI
Bopaiah, who was the speaker between 2009 and 2013, is considered close to B S Yeddyurappa.
The Congress-JDS combine has approached the apex court, arguing that he is not the senior most MLA.
Usually, the senior most member is selected as the pro tem speaker for purposes, which also include election of the speaker.
Pro tem is a Latin phrase which best translates to “for the time being” or temporary.
The Supreme Court had in 2011 quashed Bopaiah’s decision to disqualify 16 MLAs ahead of the no-confidence motion which had ensured the survival of the Yeddyurappa government.
The apex court had then said that basic constitutional values and principles of natural justice were not observed by Bopaiah in disqualifying the 11 rebel BJP and five independent legislators.
10:38 PM Modi arrives in J&K on day-long visit:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Leh this morning on his day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the first after the Centre announced suspension of operations against terror groups during the holy month of Ramzan.
This is the his second visit to Leh, a Himalayan town sharing border with Pakistan and China and located 450 km north of the state’s summer capital city of Srinagar. He had visited here on August 12, 2014 and inaugurated a hydel power project.
After reaching the airport, the prime minister stopped on the road and met people who had come to welcome him.
“I thank the wonderful people of Leh for the warm welcome. I am delighted to be here,” he tweeted
The prime minister will participate in the closing ceremony of 100th birth anniversary of the 19th Kushak Bakula Rinpoche.
Bakula was seen as the force behind several political agitations in the region and was its voice all over the world. He was born in Matho on May 21, 1917, and educated at Geshes, Lhasa (Tibet). A scholar of the Mahayana school of Buddhism, he was head priest of the Spituk Gompa. He died in 2003.
Later, Modi will unveil a plaque to mark the commencement of work on the Zojila tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity to this region.
The 14 km tunnel will be country’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel. — PTI
10:28 K’taka floor test: SC to begin hearing on appointment of pro tem speaker :
Here’s the man of the moment.
K G Bopaiah, who has been appointed the pro tem speaker to conduct the crucial floor test, was spotted in the Karnataka assembly.
The Supreme Court will shortly begin the hearing of Congress-Janata Dal-Secular combine’s plea challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to appoint Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker.
10:08 Karnataka assembly turns into fortress ahead of floor test:
Heavy security has been deployed outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru ahead of crucial floor test to be held at 4 pm today.
The Supreme Court, while oredering a floor test in the Karnataka assembly on Friday, asked the authorities, including the Director General of Police, to ensure law and order outside the assembly.
Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed around the assembly which prohibits gathering of five or more people, carrying out processions, carrying weapons, display and burning of effigies and shouting provocative slogans.
100% I am going to have absolute majority. Tomorrow I am going to take all that decision which I promised to the people of Karnataka: BS Yeddyurappa, Karnataka chief minister
Numbers are against the BJP. Numbers are in favor of us. MLAs are in our favour. We will form the government: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress
The BJP doesn’t have the numbers, we will win the floor test. The BJP is just trying to prove their majority and they will fail to do so: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress
Wait till 4.30 pm. We will win and BS Yeddyurappa will be the CM for 5 years: Sadananda Gowda, BJP
Both Congress and JD(S) have an unholy alliance. They are going to be rejected, people are going to reject them: Ananth Kumar, Union minister and BJP leader
09:12 Congress, JD-S MLAs reach Bengaluru for floor test :
Newly-elected Janata Dal-Secular and Congress MLAs from Karnataka have arrived in Bengaluru for the crucial floor test in the state assembly today.
The MLAs were camping in two Hyderabad hotels to avoid any poaching bids from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
JD-S MLC Basavaraj said that as many as 36 legislators belonging to his party and 77 of the Congress were camping in the city hotels.
Though the legislators were prepared to stay in Hyderabad for a few days, they all left on Friday night by road to Bengaluru after the Supreme Court ordered that a floor test be held in the Karnataka assembly at 4 pm today to confirm whether newly-appointed BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa enjoys a majority in the state.
Internet services have been suspended in Kashmir valley ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir today, during which he will lay the foundation stone for the ambitious Zojila tunnel that will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh with the rest of the country.
A three-tier security arrangement has been thrown around Srinagar ahead of Modi’s visit to all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi will also lay the foundation stones for ring road projects in Srinagar and Jammu costing nearly Rs 3,884 crore.
The prime minister is also expected to dedicate to the nation the 330-MW Kishenganga power project constructed in the Gurez area of Kashmir.
08:14 K’taka floor test: SC to hear plea against pro tem speaker appointment at 10.30 am:
The Supreme Court to hear Congress-Janata Dal-Secular combine’s plea challenging Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala’s decision to appoint K G Bopaiah as the pro tem speaker to conduct the crucial floor test, today at 10.30 am.
Yesterday, late night, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra decided to list the matter before the three-judge bench, headed by Justice A K Sikri, which has been hearing the case.
The matter will be heard by the bench, which also comprises Justices S A Bobde and Ashok Bhusha, much ahead of the trust vote slated at 4 pm.
The Congress-JDS plea, filed through advocate Dev Dutt Kamath, was placed yesterday evening before the registrar of the top court but some defects were pointed out in it, which were later corrected.
The cured plea was submitted last night at the registry and the registrar of the top court rushed to the residence of the CJI for directions on the listing of the matter.
In the application, the combine has demanded setting aside of the decision to appoint Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Bopaiah as the pro tem dpeaker saying it was contrary to the tradition, as per which the post goes to the senior-most legislator.
It termed the governor’s action as a “brazen unconstitutional” act to appoint “a junior MLA as the pro tem speaker.
A Boeing 737 plane crashed shortly after taking off from Havana’s main airport, Cuban state-run media reported.
There was no immediate word on casualties.
The plane was a domestic flight going to Holguin, carrying 104 passengers, state-run TV said.
Officials said the plane was headed to the eastern city of Holguin when it crashed between the airport in southern Havana and the nearby town of Santiago de las Vegas.
Images on TV and social media showed a large plume of black smoke above the airport.
Ambulances and firefighters were rushing to the scene.
Source: Rediff