Pawan Kalyan delves into secularism, language row on Janasena formation day
Chitrada (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Janasena founder Pawan Kalyan has commemorated the 11th formation day of his party and asserted his credentials as a Sanatan champion and his party's success against several odds.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister said on Friday that he started the party all alone in 2014 and that he is looking forward to raising 100 leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who could influence the country.
"As we don't have the fear of losing, we contested in 2019. Even after losing, we took a step forward. We stood our ground and upheld the party. We not only stood up for ourselves but also upheld the four-decade-old TDP," said Kalyan, addressing a large meeting here in the East Godavari district.
He said the party entered the Legislative Assembly with a 100 per cent success rate by winning all the 21 seats it contested in the 2024 polls.
He cherished his association with TDP supremo and CM N Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh, as he hit out at some of the news reports which, he said, accused him of shifting his ideology often.
Kalyan said that his ideology is to forge unity in diversity and claimed that the ideology Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is in his blood.
Communalism in India is a result of "pseudo-secularism," he said.
"True secularism should be applied in true spirit, not for vote bank politics… I am even ready to die for Bharat," Kalyan said.
Later, the actor-politician waded into the language controversy raging between Tamil Nadu and the Centre, emphasising that more languages are needed to keep the integrity of the country.
He castigated people for opposing Hindi and arguing against dubbing Tamil films into the language.
Kalyan also called for debates on delimitation amid worries among some politicians who argue that some states will lose their MP seats in the Lok Sabha.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
