Voting for Karnataka Legislative Council polls begins June 18

Lakshman Dasti, founder-president of Kalyana Karnataka Horata Samiti, addressing representatives of educational institutions and academicians during a meeting in Kalaburagi on Saturday. | The meeting, chaired by the samiti’s honorary president Basavaraj Deshmukh, was attended by representatives of educational institutions, university officials, college principals, academicians, legislators and Samiti members.Samiti founder-president Lakshman Dasti described the implementation of Article 371(J) as a significant milestone in the region’s development. He said the provision had helped safeguard educational and employment opportunities for the people of Kalyana Karnataka and proposed that its implementation be commemorated every year through a dedicated observance.The proposal was unanimously endorsed by the participants. The meeting also decided to organise seminars and discussions in educational institutions to create greater awareness about the objectives, provisions and benefits of Article 371(J).Shashil G. Namoshi, MLC, said the effective implementation of Article 371(J) required continued efforts beyond political affiliations and stressed the need for educational institutions to play a larger role in public awareness. He promised support for conducting seminars and academic programmes on the subject.B.G. Patil, MLC, suggested that universities and colleges organise programmes highlighting the history of the movement for Article 371(J), the circumstances leading to its inclusion in the Constitution, and its impact on the region.The meeting also discussed measures for strengthening the implementation of Article 371(J) and the broader development of Kalyana Karnataka. Participants called for focused administrative mechanisms to ensure the effective execution of development programmes in the region.Samiti members emphasised the need to disseminate factual information about Article 371(J) and address misconceptions regarding the provision. They said awareness programmes would help improve public understanding of its constitutional status and development objectives.The meeting resolved to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Deshmukh to coordinate seminars and outreach programmes in colleges and educational institutions across the region. The first programme is expected to be held shortly, followed by a series of events in different districts of the Kalyana Karnataka region. Published - June 13, 2026 10:59 pm IST

Minister for Revenue and Housing Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy with a beneficiary during the housewarming ceremony of an ‘Indiramma house’ in Rajupeta village of Khammam district on Monday. | The Congress government is determined to take forward the flagship housing scheme to realise the dream of every poor family to own a house, Mr. Reddy asserted.The Minister attended the housewarming ceremonies of Indiramma houses held in Rajupeta and Gattusingaram villages in Kusumanchi mandal of Khammam district on Monday.Speaking on the occasion, he said “The government has already launched the second phase of the Indiramma housing scheme. Indiramma houses will be sanctioned to an additional 2,000 eligible poor persons in each Assembly constituency.”He said that Indiramma houses were being sanctioned above politics with the sole objective of providing housing to all eligible poor people. The construction of Indiramma houses is being monitored constantly and bills are being released to beneficiaries on time, he added.Later, the Minister inaugurated the Electricity Revenue Office in Kusumanchi and participated in various programmes, including ‘Praja Darbar’ organised as part of “Praja Palana – Pragathi Pranalika” public outreach initiative in Yedulapuram in Khammam rural mandal. Published - June 08, 2026 07:27 pm IST

Representational file image. | Nagaraja from Karnataka and Mahesh Kewat from Madhya Pradesh.The party also named Lingaraj Patil and Raghu Kautilya as its candidates for Karnataka Legislative Council elections.The BJP's central election committee has approved the names of these candidates, party national general secretary Arun Singh said in a notification.The Rajya Sabha polls for 24 seats in 10 States, including Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Manipur and Karnataka, will be held on June 18.Election to the Karnataka Legislative Council is also due to be held on June 18. Published - June 08, 2026 08:38 am IST

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said “healthcare is crumbling across Jammu and Kashmir, it’s imperative AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon”. File | P. Nadda, requesting him to expedite the ongoing work.Spoke with Union Health Minister JP Nadda ji & requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn't get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time. Undoubtedly the team assigned here is toiling day &…— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 6, 2026"Spoke with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda ji and requested him to expedite the ongoing work at AIIMS Awantipora so that it doesn't get delayed any further. He was kind enough to assure me about its completion well on time," Ms. Mehbooba said in a post on X.Her phone call to Mr. Nadda came a day after her visit to AIIMS Awantipora, in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. While the PDP chief said that the visit was to "understand" the progress on the construction work, the ruling National Conference questioned her capacity to conduct the "review".The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said undoubtedly the team assigned here is toiling day and night, "but given how healthcare is crumbling across Jammu and Kashmir, it's imperative AIIMS Awantipora is operational soon".She said that it will provide needed relief and quality medical services. Published - June 06, 2026 04:21 pm IST

Minister Ramalinga Reddy was allocated Major and Medium Irrigation projects portfolio. | The minister said he wanted the Bengaluru Development portfolio but was made minister for Major and Medium Irrigation projects.The resignation comes after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar allotted the portfolios on Thursday (June 4) night."I am resigning from my post because I cannot work against conscience," Mr. Reddy said at a press conference in Bengaluru. "How long can I tolerate this humiliation and what else were options before me?" he added.“Twice they called me and promised to give me that [Bengaluru Development] portfolio, but in the end it went to someone else. That is why I feel hurt. Therefore, today I am resigning,” Mr. Reddy told reporters, while asserting that he would continue in Congress and remain as MLA.This was a major setback for the Shivakumar government, which came to power on Wednesday (June 3).The Congress leadership made a last ditch attempt in the middle of the press conference to persuade the disgruntled minister, but he remained firm in his decision. He told the leaders who approached him with the party leadership's message that the time is now lapsed to pay heed to any suggestions. A copy of Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation letter, addressed to Chief Minister D.k. Shivakumar. Mr. Reddy, an eight-time MLA from Bengaluru, said he had never lobbied for ministerial office or sought any specific department from the party leadership during his five-decade-long political career.“I never asked Siddaramaiah for the Bengaluru Development portfolio. He voluntarily offered it,” Mr. Reddy said, recounting events after the formation of the previous Congress government between 2013 and 2018. He also served as Transport minister under Siddaramaiah from May 2023 to May 2026.He claimed he did not raise any demand for ministership or a portfolio to Mr. Shivakumar as well. “I never asked him to make me a minister. I never asked Siddaramaiah to include me in the Cabinet. I never approached the high command,” he said.‘Won’t reconsider resignation’Asked whether he would reconsider his decision if persuaded by the party leadership or offered the portfolio he wanted, Reddy replied with a firm “no”.The veteran leader also said he bore no personal grudge against any leader despite his disappointment over the developments. “I have no anger towards Siddaramaiah. I have no anger towards Shivakumar. I have no anger towards Kharge. I have no anger towards the high command,” he said.Will address Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s concerns: CM ShivakumarSpeaking to reporters on Mr. Reddy’s resignation, Mr. Shivakumar said the issue will be resolved through discussions. “Ramalinga Reddy is my colleague and a senior leader. His concern is that he may not be able to work in a department that requires extensive travel, and he would like some other portfolio. I will discuss the matter with him and sort it out. There is nothing to worry about,” the Chief Minister said. Published - June 05, 2026 10:28 am IST

Home The Huddle The sixth edition of the ideas conclave of The Hindu Group, The Hindu Huddle, is being held in Bengaluru on June 5 and 6. Updated - June 05, 2026 09:59 am IST Diverse panels of experts all set to engage with the audience on complex and pertinent issues on Day 1, June 5, 2026. | Murali Kumar This event brings diverse panels of experts to explicate and engage with the audience on complex and pertinent issues of recent times including the impact of tariffs on the Indian economy, the role of diplomacy in managing crises such as the war in West Asia, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping multiple aspects of life, from jobs to mental health.Themed “A world in transition” to reflect the tectonic shifts that have transformed lives over the past year and more, The Hindu Huddle has a bevy of Chief Ministers and other Ministers from across the country. The event also brings prominent and authoritative voices from across the private sector, civil society, and media to discuss and engage candidly with the audience on the changing mores of culture, technology, and business impacting issues such as balancing ecological restoration with development, the use of chatbots in mental health, and the influence of OTT platforms on acting careers, and how art holds meaning and space especially during times of socioeconomic stress. June 05, 2026 09:37 Key speakers in today's panelsToday we are bringing together the following speakers:D.K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of KarnatakaOmar Abdullah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jammu and KashmirXu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to IndiaJairam Ramesh, Former Union Minister and Hon’ble Member of Parliament (INC), Rajya SabhaDr Krithi Karanth, CEO, Centre for Wildlife StudiesHervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to IndiaNirupama Rao, Former Foreign Secretary and Former Indian Ambassador to the USPhilip Green, Australian High Commissioner to IndiaR. Ganesan, Senior Vice President & Head - Corporate Centre, L&TNeeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease DigitalPraveen Someshwar, MD and CEO, USL & Member, Global Diageo Executive CommitteeShailendra Katyal, VP & MD, Lenovo India P Ltd, and Site Leader, Lenovo GroupDr Amit Malik, Psychiatrist and Founder, AMAHADr Prabha S Chandra, Professor of Psychiatry and Director, NIMHANSHuma Qureshi, ActorKritika Kamra, ActorJune 05, 2026 09:29 Day 1 to include insightful conversationsToday highlights will include:Diplomacy and global affairs discussions Sustainable development and climate change challenges Artificial intelligence and the future of education Leadership in times of disruption and uncertainty Urban transformation and infrastructure development Media, technology, and society The Hindu Huddle 2026 opens in Bengaluru, June 5, 2026.June 05, 2026 09:05 Expert panels at The Hindu Huddle 2026The Hindu Huddle will be opened by host State Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and will include other Ministers from across the country to explain the government view on vital policies. Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Telangana A. Revanth Reddy will also be speaking at the event.This edition will bring together leading Indian and global voices to discuss some of today’s most important issues, including the role of regional parties in strengthening India’s democracy, diplomacy in times of conflict, women’s representation in Parliament, India and China’s role in shaping a new global order, balancing ecological restoration with development, the use of chatbots in mental health, the influence of OTT platforms on acting careers, and the future of work.IMG_Logo_Unit_ILU__1___1_4_1_4NG1KVL0.jpg Published - June 05, 2026 09:02 am IST0 / 0Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Las

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar holds a meeting with officials at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Thursday. | K. Shivakumar on Thursday held a meeting with senior officials and announced that his government will set up two exclusive secretariats, one for addressing public grievances and another to handle issues related to NRIs.Briefing presspersons after a meeting with top-ranking officials including those from the police and the Forest Department, Mr. Shivakumar said the proposed secretariat for handling public grievances would be headed by a Minister.This will mainly look into the demands of organisations and associations that stage protests. The secretariat will hold meetings with representatives of protesting organisations, examine if their demands were justified and look into addressing them.NRI investmentsThe Chief Minister also stated that another exclusive secretariat would be set up to look into issues related to NRIs. Appropriate changes would also be made to relevant laws to facilitate NRIs to invest in Karnataka, he said.Asserting that his government would not yield to any caste and religious influences or pressure, he asked the bureaucracy to work towards delivering good governance by responding to the aspirations and problems of people.He called upon officials not to yield to pressure from any quarter. “I want you not to go out of the legal framework by yielding to pressure. Work in a transparent manner and as per your conscience,” he said.He directed the district in-charge Secretaries to submit proposals within 25 days on the works that could be taken up in their districts within the available financial resources. He asked them to take up regular visits not only to district headquarters, but also to all taluks coming under districts assigned to them.He directed all government departments to come out with an action plan within 15 days on programmes that have to be taken up including those that have been listed in the State Budget.‘Misuse’ of schemeReferring to queries related to collection of details on consumers who are beneficiaries of free power supply under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, Mr. Shivakumar said there were complaints that some consumers were misusing free power supply for commercial purposes. Similarly, some of them had multiple electricity meters in their names. Hence data was being collected in this regard to help streamline the scheme, he noted. Published - June 04, 2026 09:14 pm IST

Banners installed on Lok Bhavan Road on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar, in Bengaluru on Tuesday. | MURALI KUMAR The stage is set for eight-time legislator and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar to be sworn in as the 34th Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) evening at Lok Bhavan, which completes the leadership transition from outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that started last week.The list of Cabinet ministers – speculated to be between 10 and 15 – to be sworn in along with Mr. Shivakumar is expected to be released by the Congress central leadership on Wednesday. Speculation about the induction of new faces to the Cabinet along with those who had served under Mr. Siddaramaiah is also doing the rounds. The Cabinet is expected to be expanded after Rajya Sabha elections. There is no clarity on the Deputy Chief Minister posts yet, sources said.Among the Congress leaders attending the event include the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress Chief Ministers V.D. Satheeshan (Kerala), Revanth Reddy (Telengana) and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh). A host of religious leaders, students, pourakarmikas, farmers’ leaders, Dalit leaders and Kannada activists have also been invited to the event.K. Shivakumar: Congress troubleshooter poised to become Chief Minister of KarnatakaThe eve of the swearing in saw continued deliberations by the leaders to finalise the list amid hectic lobbying for the post by the legislators in Delhi. Both leaders, who were in Delhi since Monday, left for Bengaluru late on Tuesday night after holding discussions with the central leaders.D.K. Shivakumar sworn-in as 25th Chief Minister of KarnatakaMeawhile, posters and buntings were put up by Mr. Shivakumar’s supporters across Bengaluru in anticipation of the ceremony. The event at Lok Bhavan itself will be low-key, though Mr. Shivakumar’s supporters, particularly in his home town Kanakapura, are expected to hold big celebrations. Traffic restrictions have been put in place in Bengaluru, particularly in CBD area.Siddaramaiah appointed CWC member​Change in arrangement: On the leadership transition in KarnatakaThe outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was on Tuesday appointed as A member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body in the party. The party seems to have accommodated the veteran OBC leader after he paved the way for a smooth transition of power to D.K. Shivakumar. While Mallikarjun Kharge is the president of the Congress, Jairam Ramesh and Syed Naseer Ahmed are members of CWC from Karnataka. MLC B.K. Hariprasad is a permanent invitee. Published - June 03, 2026 12:52 am IST