New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended birthday greetings to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, calling him one of the most experienced leaders who has devoted his life to farmers and the poor.
“Greetings to Karnataka CM @BSYBJP Ji on his birthday. Yediyurappa Ji is one of our most experienced leaders, who has devoted his life towards the welfare of farmers and empowering the poor. Praying for his long and healthy life,” PM Modi tweeted.
Born on February 27, 1943, BS Yeddyurappa, now 78, was first elected to the lower house of Karnataka Legislature in 1983 and has since represented the Shikaripur constituency seven times.
He was elected as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3rd February 2006 in the JD(S) and BJP Coalition Government. Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka on November 12, 2007.
In Karnataka’s 2008 Assembly elections, Yeddyurappa contested from Shikaripura won the election and took the oath of office as Chief Minister on May 30, 2008.
He is the first person from the Bharatiya Janata Party to become the Chief Minister of a south Indian state and the first Chief Minister to present a separate agricultural budget. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): One body was recovered from a factory in the Pratap Nagar area of Delhi where a fire broke out on Saturday morning.
According to Fire Officer Rajinder Atwal, eyewitnesses informed that an LPG cylinder exploded following which the fire broke out.
“A Fire Service personnel is injured and admitted to hospital. We have successfully contained the fire,” he said.
A total of 28 fire tenders reached the spot to contain the fire.
Cooling operations are underway.
Further details are awaited. (ANI)

Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 27 (ANI): Political posters from from public properties and government establishments were removed on Friday shortly after the Election Commission of India announced the poll dates for upcoming Assam Elections 2021 as the model code of conduct came into force.
The state administration started the process for the removal of political posters from public properties and government establishments immediately after the Election Commission of India announced the dates of elections in four states–Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, along with Puducherry.

“As soon as Election Commission notified the dates for polls today, the model code of conduct came into effect. We are removing the political posters and banners from all public places and government buildings,” said Lakshya Jyoti Das, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Kamrup-Metro, Assam.

Model Code of Conduct comes into force immediately after the announcement of the election dates.
The term of the 14th legislative assembly of Assam is up to 31 May 2021. The Assembly elections for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting from March 27. In 2016 Assembly polls were held in two phases.

A total of 2,32,44,454 electors will elect the candidates in Assam for the 15th legislative assembly of Assam. Of the 126 seats, the number of reserved seats for SCs is eight and for STs it is 16. The number of polling booths in Assam has been increased from 24,890 to 33,530, an increase of 35.71 per cent.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said: “In Assam, elections shall be held in three phases. The first phase of notification is March 2 and 47 seats in 12 districts will go to the polls. The last date of nomination March 9 and the date of poll is March 27. In the second phase, 39 constituencies in 13 districts will go to the polls on April 1. A total of 41 constituencies in 12 districts will go to polls on April 6.” (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the mystic poet, Sant Ravidas on the occasion of his birth anniversary, also known as Ravidas Jayanti, on Saturday.
Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister said, ” Saint Ravidasji gave messages on equality, goodwill and compassion centuries ago, which has inspired the countrymen for ages. I pay tribute to him on his birth anniversary.”
Sant Ravidas belonged to the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century and his hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. He is considered the founder of the 21st-century Ravidassia religion.
Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated on Magh Purnima, which is the full moon day of the Magh month as per the Hindu calendar. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 27 (ANI): After extending COVID-19 guidelines till March 31, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Friday wrote to all states and Union Territories and said there is a need for maintaining caution and strict surveillance to fully overcome the pandemic.
Urging the officials to ensure the compliance of the guidelines, Bhalla said, “All activities have been permitted, subject to following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), issued by respective administrative Ministry and Department as well as the SOPs which are to be issued by the States and UTs.”
He further reiterated that there shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries.
“As you are aware, the number of active and new cases in the country has substantially declined over the last few months. However, there is need for maintaining caution and strict surveillance so as to fully overcome the pandemic,” the official added. (ANI)

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], February 27 (ANI): The Budget session of the Jharkhand assembly started on Friday with an inaugural address by Governor Draupadi Murmu.
The session will continue till March 23 and the budget will be presented on March 3.
The Opposition in the state blamed that the government has made lots of false promises. The ruling party claimed that the budget is progressive and pro-people.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren claimed that this budget is realistic and opposition should realise this. (ANI)