100 days Bommai administration people have responded by defeating BJP in CM's district:DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Nov 4: On a day when the Basavaraj Bommai-led government completed hundred days in office, Congress Karnataka president D K Shivakumar on Thursday said people in the Chief Minister's home district Haveri have responded to his administration's functioning, by defeating the ruling BJP in the recent Hangal bypolls.
"Let him (Bommai) give good advertisement for the good administration and work done, but the people of his district have given an answer. We are not disputing his achievement or questioning his management, we are not making any allegations. We are happy that his party has decided to go for election (in 2023) under his leadership," Shivakumar quipped in response to a question on the Bommai government's hundred days in office.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "whether Bommai or Yediyurappa is the Chief Minister, it doesn't matter. For us, it is the BJP government and its policies."
Shivakumar was referring to BJP's loss in the Hangal bypolls, which is also seen as a "setback" to Chief Minister Bommai, as it is the neighbouring constituency to his Shiggaon assembly segment in Haveri district, where he had extensively campaigned.
Chief Minister Bommai earlier today had said that he is satisfied with the decisions taken so far in taking the administration in the right direction, and the work is on towards inclusive economic progress.
Ending months of speculation about the change of guard in the state, Bommai on July 28 had taken over as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, from BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa, who stepped down from the coveted post, coinciding with his government completing two years in office.
Hitting out at the BJP for showcasing reduction in petrol and diesel prices as Deepavali gift, Shivakumar said, it is nothing but "pickpocketing" that was happening every day, has been stopped.
"When the price is reduced from Rs 10 to Rs 5 it can be called a gift, not taking Rs 45 and giving back Rs 7 or 10, it cannot be called a gift. If you are getting Rs 10,000 or Rs 20,000 salary and if you are given Rs 25,000 it can be called bonus or gift, not first reducing salary to Rs 15,000 and then increasing Rs 5,000. Can it be called a gift?" he asked.
Comparing fuel prices under various governments, the KPCC chief said, "every day the government is pickpocketing from every pocket, whether you are commuting by car or a two wheeler."
He also claimed that the central and state government's decision to slash prices of petrol and diesel was following a message from the people to them, in the bypolls held in various parts of the country.
ಹಾನಗಲ್ ಉಪ ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶದ ಫಲವಾಗಿ ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಡೀಸೆಲ್ ಬೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರೀ ಇಳಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಇನ್ನೂ ಬೆಲೆ ಇಳಿಕೆಯಾಗಬೇಕಾದ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು ಬಹಳಷ್ಟಿವೆ. ಗ್ಯಾಸ್, ಅಡುಗೆ ಎಣ್ಣೆ, ದಿನಸಿ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ. ಜನರು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಉತ್ತರ ಕೊಡುವ ದಿನಗಳು ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬರ್ತಿವೆ.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 4, 2021
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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.
