Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar seeks Cabinet berth.

The recent Lok Sabha by-polls results in Karnataka have given a boost to the Congress with the party wresting two seats - Bangalore Rural and Mandya - from the JDS. In Andhra Pradesh, too, political temperature is rising over the proposed bifurcation of the state to create Telangana.

Karnataka:

Karnataka Congress strongman DK Shivakumar is in New Delhi to lobby for a Cabinet berth in the Siddaramaiah government. He failed to make it to the state Cabinet after some partymen and public intellectuals opposed his inclusion on the grounds that he is a 'tainted' MLA. His younger brother DK Suresh has won the Lok Sabha by-poll from Bangalore Rural on Saturday defeating JDS chief HD Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha by a big margin. Shivakumar is now hoping that his stars will shine bright once again.

Karnataka State Congress President Dr G Parameshwar is also demanding that he should be made the Deputy Chief Minister. He is also in New Delhi.

The jailed People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Adbul Nasir Maudany alleges that the Congress government in Karnataka is worse than the BJP government. Maudany, lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bangalore in connection with the Bangalore bomb blasts case has issued a statement alleging harassment by the state police.

Heavy rain which battered most parts of Karnataka for over two months has now subsided. Government is now busy estimating the loss across the state.

Andhra Pradesh:

YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy's indefinite fast from his cell in the Chanchalguda jail in Hyderabad has been received well by his party cadres across Seemandhra. Jagan is on a fast opposing bifurcation of the state. He is demanding justice for all regions. His mother YS Vijayamma was forced to end her fast by the state police on Saturday.

The suspended TRS MP Vijayashanthi is now with the Congress. There are strong rumours that many more disgruntled TRS leaders are planning to join the Congress in the next two months.

Tamil Nadu:

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has decided the tame the notorious auto rickshaw unions in Chennai by ordering them to install GPS and panic buttons in all autos.

She has also revised auto fare after six years. Minimum fares will be up by 75 per cent. Autos in Chennai rarely go by meter!

Tamil Nadu Youth Congress (TNYCC) has requested the party high command to go solo in the coming Lok Sabha polls. It is opposing a tie up with the DMK.

Kerala:

Kerala government is finding it difficult to pay the customary Onam advance to all state government employees, this year. Including the pensioners advance, it will put an additional burden of over Rs 2,100 crore.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com