Congress leadership at Gandhiji's Wardha ashram, to launch poll campaign
Nagpur, Oct 1 : Top Congress leadership, including party chief Rahul Gandhi, has converged at the historic Sevagram Ashram in Wardha in Maharashtra amid indications that it will launch its 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign on Tuesday, coinciding with Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, party officials said.
Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other party leaders will pay homage at the Bapu Kutir in the Sevagram Ashram on Tuesday morning, attend a prayer meeting and then hold a special Congress Working Committee meeting at the nearby Mahadev Bhavan.
The Congress chief will also garland a statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the District Collectorate, take out a foot march (padyatra) and address a rally at the Circus Ground in the town.
An AICC leader said that the events are significant as it was the venue where the CWC met in 1942 under Gandhiji's leadership to launch the 'Quit India Movement' of August 8, 1942, which ultimately saw the collapse of the British rule after five years.
"We are now celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu and also the 70th year of India's independence. So, we are holding a CWC meeting here," AICC Secretary and legislator Harshawardhan Sakpal told the media.
Addressing the media, AICC Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala launched an attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
He alleged that the RSS and Pakistan are "on the same page in propagating hatred, divisions and violence among the people", and that the BJP government was engaging in polarising people on communal, caste and regional lines.
"During the British Raj, the country's plurality was under threat because of 'divide-and-rule policy'... now, the policies of the BJP government are on similar lines.
"As the country secured freedom under the stewardship of Mahatma Gandhi, we will free the country of the BJP under Rahul Gandhi's leadership," Surjewala said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the world's biggest 'charkha' or spinning wheel will be unveiled outside Sevagram Ashram complex.
The approximately 31-feet X 19-feet charkha will be bigger than that installed at the Delhi airport, he said.
Mungantiwar said that government will get prepared 206 saplings of a 'peepal' tree, the sapling of which was planted here in 1936 by Gandhiji, and plant them at 206 Martyrs Memorials in Maharashtra to mark the sesquicentennial.
The government also plans to release 101 prisoners from various jails, including 28 from Mumbai's Arthur Road Central and Raigad's Aloja Central Jail on Tuesday.
Gandhiji had spent around 10 years at the Sevagram Ashram, or the 'Village of Service'.
The 'Bapu Kutir', the tiny hut where he lived, is now a mecca for students, academics, researchers, domestic and foreign tourists and Gandhians.
The Sevagram Ashram is spread over 400 acres and houses other prominent institutions like Nai Talim Samiti, Mahatma Gandhi Seva Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Seva Sangh and Kasturba Health Society.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
