The CPI(M) on Tuesday termed the vote of confidence by the BJP government in the Karnataka Assembly “farcical’’ and said that a fresh vote should be taken in the House for it to prove its majority.

The NCP, a key constituent of the UPA government, is not in favour of the imposition of President’s Rule in Karnataka, saying it should be the last resort. But it came down heavily on the BJP government for “murdering the democracy” and criticised the Assembly Speaker the way he disqualified MLAs.

Changing its strategy on Karnataka crisis, the Congress on Tuesday hinted that the party was disinclined towards pressing for President’s Rule in the state and instead claimed that the BJP government would crumble under its own weight.

After the Cabinet meeting here on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a 20-minute-long meeting with his ministerial colleagues, who belong to Karnataka, and discussed with them the developments in the state following the controversial trust vote in the Assembly.

On a day replete with much political hob-nobbing, embattled Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa accepted state governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s offer to face a second trust vote on October 14. At the same time, an unhappy BJP sought to rally behind its CM, with senior BJP leader L.K. Advani seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the allegedly “partisan” role played by the governor in the Karnataka developments.

Metro fortified its security ahead of the closing ceremony by erecting more than 100 security pickets inside and outside various Metro Stations across the capital.
The pickets or “morchas” are constructed inside the stations with sandbags and CISF is manning them. The CISF has deployed 2,000 additional men for the job at s

The Delhi police has extended the use of loudspeakers and public address system for organising Ram Leela and Durga Puja till midnight.
The police officials said the use of loudspeakers and public address system will be permitted between 10 pm and midnight for organising Ram Leela and Durga Puja. The police said the order will remain in effect till October 17.

With the Greater Noida Expressway being closed for preparations of CWG cycling event, commuters in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Tuesday experienced problems in reaching their destinations in the capital from Noida and Greater Noida. The Expressway will remain closed till October 14.
While there were no major jams on the arterial roads, people had to spend long time coming to Delhi.

79 fresh cases of dengue were reported on Tuesday, taking the total number to 4,244. The city has reported seven dengue deaths this season.

Property prices in the capital are set to rise with the Delhi Cabinet clearing a proposal to hike the circle rates by 100 per cent across all categories of properties. The rates have been revised for the first time after being introduced in July 2007.