Harsimrat seeks PM's intervention on Chandigarh's cadre issue
Chandigarh, Oct 3 : Union Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the issue of changes being made to the 60:40 ratio of drawing staff and officers for Chandigarh, from Punjab and Haryana respectively.
Urging the Prime Minister to put an end to the violations by successive governments of the commitments and decisions regarding the administrative staff of Chandigarh being drawn from Punjab and Haryana on a 60:40 ratio, pending its transfer to Punjab, Harsimrat on Wednesday handed over a letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the SAD.
The letter specifically flagged the issue of merger of the post of the DSP (deputy superintendent of police) with the UT (union territory) cadre and requested the Prime Minister to get this undone, a SAD spokesman said here.
It also sought a review and revocation of all other acts in violation of decisions and assurances on the appointment of officers and officials in Chandigarh, the spokesman said.
"The PM expressed surprise over the merger with UT cadre of posts meant for Punjab and assured her that necessary steps in this regard would be expeditiously taken. Badal expressed satisfaction regarding the very positive and helpful response of the Prime Minister on this issue," the spokesman added.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal also expressed his strong resentment over the dilution of Punjab's rights in the UT of Chandigarh by successive Congress governments.
"There is no such thing as UT cadre in Chandigarh. This is an artificial and fabricated bureaucratic manipulation and it flies in the face of the fact that Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and is being administered on its behalf through the 60:40 formula, pending its transfer (to Punjab)," he said in a statement here.
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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.
