Let Billava candidate get opportunity in Lok Sabha elections: Vasantha Bangera
Interview : Shibi Dharmasthala
Former MLA of Belthangady, DK district’s senior Congress leader K.Vasantha Bangera shared his views with Varatha Bharti regarding various issues like the political developments taking place in the district, the party's defeat in the previous election and the party's preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
What is the reason for the Congress’ defeat in the previous election?
Bangera : The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had planned great pro-public programs, and even they have reached to people. A government with such good programmes has never come in the past.
But, the party ‘s MLAs and office bearers have failed in educating people that they implemented these all people friendly projects. Following which, people were forced to believe the BJP's propaganda. This is the most important reason for the Congress’ defeat.
Congress supporters from the backward classes seem to have gone far from the party in the last election. What do you say about this?
Bangera: The backward communities were always with the Congress Party in the DK district. The party made schemes on behalf of them. But the district in-charge minister and a few others have failed in effectively implementing such projects. The Congress government has been unable to aware people against the BJP’s misconduct it is doing in the name of safeguarding Hindus and by telling that the Congress is attracting Muslims. Even the communities which were supporting Congress earlier had been left out of the party. But this is not the permanent thing. People now know the truth. The people of the district will again turn towards the Congress.
Who could be the party candidate for upcoming election, you too a ticket aspirant?
Bangera: Neither I am an aspirant for Lok Sabha ticket, nor I have any intention to contest the election. I will work on behalf of the party candidate. Party has not decided its candidate yet. Already three to four aspirants are there in the party. Party will choose a candidate after surveying the district’s situations. Janardhan Poojary, who comes from Billava Community, has contested the Lok Sabha polls.
If the Billava community, which is the largest community in the district, is given opportunity in future too; it is possible that the voters of that community would again support Congress. Party has to consider this. It needs to keep track of the aspirations of the people in the district and continue.
Are you satisfied with the activities of the coalition government?
Bangera: The coalition government is continuing all the projects taken by the erstwhile Siddaramaiah government. Besides, special programmes like farmers’ loan waiver have been taken up. Such benefits reach people directly. The government will smoothly continue its journey as both the parties are moving further by cooperating with each other.
How is the preparation for the upcoming election?
Bangera: The previous election has taught many lessons to the party. By keeping these things in mind, preparations for the next election must be started. Significantly, we have to face the malicious campaigns of the BJP by giving befitting replies to them. People must be made aware of the achievements of the government. If the former MLAs and party functionaries work together, the Congress will have the opportunity to win the Lok Sabha constituency again. The preparations have already begun for that.
What programmes have been planned to bring back the communities which have maintained distance from the party?
Bangera: The backward and underprivileged communities in the district are not distant from the Congress. Due to the propaganda, it could have been a bit complicated in the last election. The Congress has always worked on behalf of these people. It is true that the injustice meted out to backward classes in the previous election. Congress must give more opportunities to them in the future.
Only then the party can get their confidence back. This can be done in the next election. For that, party leaders need to go to the people. All people must be taken into confidence and proceed.
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SC upholds inclusion of ‘secular, socialist’ in Preamble of Constitution
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the inclusion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, confirming their retrospective application from November 26, 1949. The court ruled that the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 extends to the Preamble, which is an integral part of the document.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated, “The power under Article 368 cannot be curtailed. It will equally apply to the Preamble.” The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced these terms in 1976 during the Emergency, was challenged on grounds of its retrospective application and the lack of states’ ratification.
The petitioners, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, argued that the amendment forced a particular economic theory on the nation and violated the original intent of the Constitution. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the Preamble reflects the will of the people at the time of adoption in 1949 and is therefore unalterable.
The court dismissed these objections, affirming that both socialism and secularism are part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. The Bench clarified that socialism refers to a welfare state ensuring equality of opportunity without negating private sector participation or individualism. It emphasised that secularism is embedded in the Constitution, particularly in the principles of equality and fraternity.
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, “Secularism has always been a core feature of the Constitution.” He added that the amendment did not impose socialism as dogma but aligned with the welfare goals enshrined in various constitutional provisions.
