The sellers and the buyers
There seems to be a small relief to the mega saga of politics that was unfolding in the state in the last few days. The move of the governor who invited BJP to form the government has come under question. Instead of considering JD(S) and Cong coalition which has majority numbers of seats required to form the government, the governor had invited BJP which clearly lacks the numbers and had said the party will have 15 days’ time to show the numbers. Now the Supreme Court has ordered for a floor test to be held by Saturday evening 4 pm to show the strength of numbers, bringing a small relief to all those who believe in democracy. In the given situation, one can clearly say, this order was more than what we expected from the Supreme Court which has honored the governor’s words and has also reduced chances of horse trading by reducing time gap given for the show of strength by the BJP.
This has obviously been a discouragement to the office of Governor and to the BJP which tried to subvert the powers of this office. If the two weeks’ time as given by the governor was continued, the next two weeks in Karnataka would have been nothing short of hell. Hence, the ruling of the court has curtailed big chances of horse trading. If there is a majority in actual sense, it can be proved now. One need not seek two weeks’ time to shore up the numbers. A government, acting in haste, took some significant decisions to shift officers on transfer and acted on decisions of a few nominations too. This undue exigency in taking a few decisions is inexplicable and obviously these decisions have ulterior motives behind them. Hence the SC has insisted that the CM should not take any decisions on administration till majority vote is proved. The BJP leaders insist that they have the numbers and t’s just a matter of time to prove the majority.
Soon as he became the CM, Yeddyurappa withdrew the security cover around Eagleton Resort where the Cong and JD(S) MLAs were being hosted. This is a matter of concern since all elected representatives in one place demands high security cover, by the rule book. How would the lone-man cabinet explain should there be any attempt to harm the lives of elected representatives? All attempts have been made to subvert the democracy and buy out MLAs. If there are any supporters within that camp of JD(S) and Cong, who support BJP why would the party put pressure on them to come out and be on their side? Yeddyurappa has accused Congress of doing goondagiri on the MLAs. How does he know these details and how can be defend such statements? If any of the MLAs had complained against Cong for the same charges as the ones levelled by Yeddyurappa, the government should undertake serious probe into the matter. But then, what would one call the BJP leaders who are trying to hijack the MLAs from opposite camps?
JD(S) and Cong must remember one thing. It is obvious that BJP needs to buy the numbers. So long as they are bound to sit for a trading. But then, a transaction will be done only when there is a buyer and a seller. This ‘politics on sale’ is worse than sex trade. Prostitution has some amount of honesty in it. But politics has none of it. If this ‘sale’ continues, the dignity and prestige of Vidhana Soudha will be thrown into the drain, let’s have no doubt about it. It now depends on the keepers of the consciousness to ensure this does not happen.
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Have sanctioned 1,000 buses for next fiscal, says K'taka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.
According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.
He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.
He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.
“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.
He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.
The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.
“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.
Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.
There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.
“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.
