The YS Sharmila Rajya Sabha Seat announcement comes after months of speculation. Congress leaders had reportedly assured her of a bigger role when she joined the party before the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections.

Sharmila contested the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in 2024. However, she could not secure a victory. Despite the loss, she continued to lead Congress activities in Andhra Pradesh.

Senior Congress leaders believe her presence in the Rajya Sabha will help strengthen the party in the state. Reports say she recently met Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge before the final decision.

Congress holds enough strength in the Karnataka Assembly to elect her comfortably. The party hopes this move will boost its efforts in Andhra Pradesh and increase Sharmila’s role in national politics.

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The elections will cover four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will elect three members each, while Jharkhand will vote for two seats. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram will each have one seat going to polls.

Several prominent leaders are set to retire from the Upper House, including former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Union ministers George Kurian and Ravneet Singh will also complete their terms.

The Election Commission said nominations can be filed until June 8. Polling and vote counting will take place on June 18 if contests occur. Political parties have already started discussions to finalize their candidates.

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After notification, the welfare fee will be collected from aggregator platforms. The amount will be transferred to the Karnataka Gig Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Fund. Officials said the process will begin after the gig workers’ welfare board is formally constituted. Karnataka is among the first states to implement a funding model under gig worker welfare law.

The Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers Act allows the government to impose a fee between one and five percent. Different rates and transaction caps are also permitted under the Act. However, the state chose a uniform rate after consultations with industry stakeholders.

The framework does not clarify who will bear the financial burden. Platforms may absorb the cost or pass it on to consumers. Industry executives earlier warned that fresh levies could affect profitability. The welfare fund will also receive worker contributions and government grants. The fund will support health cover, accident insurance, and social security benefits.

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A resident of Hubballi, Karnataka, was among the victims of a tragic bus accident in Saudi Arabia, according to information received by his family on Monday. The deceased, who had been working as a driver at a hotel in Dubai, had travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Reports indicate that the bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident on its route, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Family members in Hubballi said they were informed of the incident by acquaintances abroad and are now awaiting official confirmation from authorities. Efforts are underway through Indian diplomatic channels to obtain further details and facilitate the repatriation of the body.
Local representatives have expressed condolences, noting that many residents from the region work in Gulf countries and incidents of this nature cause deep distress at home. The community has gathered to support the grieving family as they seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the accident.

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He reminded the audience that Asia’s first co-operative bank started in Karnataka. This achievement, he said, reflects the State’s long leadership in the co-operative sector. The Chief Minister also credited Jawaharlal Nehru for encouraging the movement at a national level. According to him, Nehru’s vision shaped modern rural economies and gave farmers a reliable foundation to grow.

During the event, Siddaramaiah presented the prestigious Sahakara Ratna awards to leaders who brought innovation and transparency into the sector. He stressed that the new generation of co-operative institutions must focus on digital systems, stronger farmer outreach, and fair financial access.

Furthermore, he explained that the co-operative movement continues to create opportunities for youth, women, and small entrepreneurs. He urged the sector to adopt modern management practices so communities can benefit from better income and long-term security.

The Chief Minister concluded that Karnataka will continue to guide India’s co-operative growth with stronger policies and inclusive development.

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The CoE will focus on capacity building, research, and startup growth under a five-year roadmap from 2025 to 2030. Karnataka already hosts major institutions like ISRO, IISc, and DRDO, making it an ideal hub for space innovation.

The centre will incubate startups, provide prototype funding, and help convert ideas into market-ready products. It will also train professionals through short courses and advanced certifications, promoting research in satellites, AI, and data analytics.

Anil Prakash, Director General of SIA-India, said the CoE will create global partnerships, launch a State Space Innovation Index, and promote public–private collaboration. He added that the initiative will strengthen Karnataka’s position as a launchpad for India’s next-generation space enterprises.

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The minister said thousands of people travel daily between Hyderabad and Bengaluru through Andhra Pradesh. He announced that the transport ministers and commissioners of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka will soon meet to discuss road safety. “Speed limits save lives, and we will strictly enforce them,” he said.

The fire broke out after a V Kaveri Travels bus hit a two-wheeler near Chinnatekur, Kurnool. The bus, registered in Odisha, was carrying 43 people, including two drivers. A detailed investigation is underway. Prabhakar said travel operators often complain of harassment when officials conduct checks, but safety cannot be compromised.

He added that Tirupati ghat roads already use a system to record vehicle entry and exit times. The government may introduce a similar setup for routes between Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam to prevent more tragedies.

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He went on to criticize Andhra Pradesh’s economic performance, stating that the state’s debt has risen to ₹10 lakh crore, with an additional ₹1.61 lakh crore borrowed in just one year. Kharge also noted that the fiscal deficit has worsened from 2.65% to 3.61%, implying poor financial management.

YSRCP leaders seized on Kharge’s remarks to attack Lokesh and the ruling coalition, arguing that even neighboring states are questioning the government’s economic claims and financial discipline.

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Speaking at the event, she highlighted initiatives like soil health cards, financial assistance, fertilisers, and increased MSP for foodgrains and pulses. Sitharaman noted that the new processing unit can handle 133 metric tonnes of tur, 100 metric tonnes of chickpeas, and 76 metric tonnes of mixed pulses annually, enabling farmers to get better prices and reduce dependency on middlemen.

The minister emphasised that this initiative will empower farmers, support farmer producer organisations (FPOs), promote holistic rural development, and create sustainable livelihoods for self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs. The programme aims to make the Raichur district’s agricultural ecosystem robust and market-driven, enhancing production quality and shelf life of pulses.

Earlier, Sitharaman interacted with over 60 interns of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) in Hampi. She engaged with representatives from companies like Infosys, IBM, TCS, HAL, and NMDC, encouraging interns on professional growth, skills development, and contributions to India’s development journey.

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In the letter, the couple stated that they do not belong to any backward caste and that providing information would not serve any purpose. “We and our family will not participate in the census,” Narayana Murthy wrote. Their decision highlights growing concerns about privacy in the survey.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar participated in the census at his Bengaluru residence. Enumerators asked multiple questions on caste, religion, and other personal details, with Shivakumar expressing mild irritation at repeated questioning.

The deadline for the Karnataka caste census has been extended. Schools now operate on a half-day schedule, and the survey will conclude statewide by October 12 and in Bengaluru by October 24. So far, about 83% of households have been covered, with 1.22 crore households enumerated out of 1.43 crore.

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