Rebel MLAs to join BJP, PM Modi meets Vladimir Putin in Brazil, more

After the Supreme Court's ruling partially in their favour, all the 17 disqualified Karnataka MLAs of JDS and Congress will be joining the ruling BJP on Thursday ahead of the December 5 by-elections. All of them are slated to fight the by-elections on BJP tickets. Earlier, in the day, the apex court upheld their disqualification by former state assembly speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, but allowed them to contest the by-elections from the assembly segments. The BJP has released a press communique, which lists the name of 16 ex-Congress and JD(S) leaders, who will join the party at a ceremony on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Victory Day celebrations in May next year as the two leaders had an "excellent meeting" here and discussed ways to further cement their special strategic partnership.