BJP-JD(S) like milk-honey, alliance strong, intact: Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Udupi: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka on Sunday said the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) remains strong and intact, and that no one should attempt to create differences between the two parties.
Speaking at a press conference held at a resort in Kapu, Ashoka described the BJP–JD(S) partnership as being “like milk and honey” and said the two parties would contest upcoming elections as directed by their central leadership. He said decisions on the future course of the alliance would be taken by senior leaders, including H. D. Kumaraswamy, H. D. Deve Gowda, and top leaders of the BJP.
Responding to questions on differing statements made by BJP state president B. Y. Vijayendra and Deve Gowda on contesting future elections, Ashoka said the BJP and JD(S) are partners within the NDA and that the alliance has already been announced at the national level by the party leadership, including the Prime Minister. He said there is currently no disagreement between the two parties and that the coordination with JD(S) would continue, just as it did successfully during the Lok Sabha elections.
Ashoka made it clear that the BJP is not attempting to bring down the present state government. “We are not in a mindset to topple the government. We have already seen the consequences of such actions once,” he said.
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He further claimed that if Assembly elections are held, the BJP–JD(S) alliance would secure more than 170 seats in Karnataka, similar to the strong mandates seen in states like Telangana and Bihar.
When asked about Deve Gowda’s statement that the JD(S) may contest local body elections independently, Ashoka said Deve Gowda is a senior leader whose words carry weight, but stressed that the final decision would be taken by the NDA coordination committee. “Whatever opinions are expressed, the coordination committee’s decision will be final,” he said.
On Vijayendra’s earlier remark about the BJP winning 140 seats on its own strength, Ashoka said the state president had already clarified that the statement reflected the sentiments of party workers and not an official position. “The decision to go together is a collective one,” he added.
Ashoka also addressed questions about the BJP state president’s post, saying the party follows a democratic process with organisational elections held every three years. He said Vijayendra was nominated by the central leadership and that the decision to continue or replace him rests with the national leadership. “There is no confusion on this issue. The decision will be taken by the party high command after January,” he said.
The press conference was attended by Kapu MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, former MLA Lalaji Mendon, and BJP leaders Kutyaru Naveen Shetty, Reshma Uday Shetty, Kalya Divakar Shetty, Srikant Naik and others.
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Three police inspectors suspended for negligence after drug seizure in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Three police inspectors were suspended on Monday on grounds of negligence after they allegedly failed to prevent the storage of a massive drug cache within their respective jurisdictional limits, officials said on Monday.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh ordered the immediate suspension following a major drug seizure carried out by inter-state agencies recently, they said.
The suspended inspectors are attached to Kothanur, Avalahalli and Bagalur police stations, a senior police officer said.
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The action was taken on grounds of alleged negligence, with the inspectors accused of failing to detect or prevent the storage of a large quantity of drugs in their jurisdiction, he said.
The disciplinary action comes in the wake of a recent joint operation by the Maharashtra Anti-Narcotics Task Force, the Bengaluru City Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau led to the arrest of four persons in connection with the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of mephedrone and related precursor materials.
In total, 4.2 kg of mephedrone valued at Rs 1.2 crore and 17 kg of precursor or raw material were seized, they said.
