16 disqualified Congress-JDS MLAs join BJP, 13 get bypoll ticket
Bengaluru, Nov 14: BJP on Thursday fielded 13 disqualified Congress-JD(S) legislators as its candidates for the December 5 assembly byelections in Karnataka hours after the rebels joined the ruling party in the state.
The party aiming to win a majority of the 15seats that will go for the bypolls announced a list of 14 candidates with the nominee for Ranebennur constituency yet to be named.
A day after the Supreme Court paved the way for themto contest the bypolls, as many as 16disqualified MLAs on Thursday joined the BJP at the party office here.
The disqualified MLAs, whose rebellion led to the fall of the Kumaraswamy government and the return of the BJP to power in July, were inducted in the presence of Chief Minister B SYediyurappa, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel and NationalGeneral Secretary in charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Raoamong others.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday had upheld the disqualification of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs in Karnataka by then Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar but allowed them to contest the bypolls necessitated by the action against them.
The court had set aside the portion of the Speaker's order bywhich the MLAs were disqualified till the end of thecurrent assembly's term in 2023.
While, the 13 disqualified MLAs have been fielded again from their respective seats, M Saravana, a former corporator, has been has been given the ticket from Shivajinagar, denying it to R Roshan Baig, a disqualified Congress legislator from the constituency.
Baig, a seven-time MLA, has notbeen inducted into the party, unlike 16 other disqualifiedlegislators who were welcomed into the BJP fold.
BJP sources cited "reservations" expressed by party leadership over Baig, who is facing inquiry in the IMA ponzi scam, among the reasons for his non-induction and denial of ticket.
Interestingly, Baig, a former minister, on Wednesday had claimed hewill join BJP along with the other legislators.
According to sources close to Baig, he met Chief Minister and expressed his displeasure andalso was contemplating contesting as an independent candidateafter consulting his supporters.
The other disqualified Congress MLAs who have been given ticket by the BJP are: Mahesh Kumatalli in Athani constituency, Shrimanthagouda Patil (Kagwad), Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Shivram Hebbar (Yellapur), B C Patil (Hirekerur), Anand Singh (Vijayanagara), K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapura), Byrati Basavaraj (K R Puram), S T Somashekar (Yeshwanthpur) and MTB Nagaraj (Hoskote).
JD(S) members who joined BJP and given ticket are: K Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout), AH Vishwanath (Hunsur) and KC Narayana Gowda (Krishnarajpet).
Though disqualified MLA R Shankar, who represented Ranibennur, had been inducted into the party, the candidate for the seat has not yetbeen finalised.
Party sources cited doubts about Shankar's winnability and pressure within the party as reasons for not giving himthe ticket.
Besides, there was also lobbying by aspirants, especiallysenior Minister and party leader K S Eshwarapp's son Kanteshfor the seat, they said.
Shankar was elected on the Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) ticket in 2018 Assembly polls, and had repeatedly switched sides since then.
Subsequently, he had merged the KPJP with the Congress.
As he had camped with rebel MLAs leading to the fall of coalition governemnt, he was disqualified on the Congress' petition.
The last date for filing of nominations for the bypolls is November 18.
The BJP will need to win at least six out of those 15 seats to remain in power.
Speaking after welcoming the disqualified legislators intothe party, Yediyurappa urged the party workers to put in their efforts to ensure the success of the BJP nominees keeping aside differences.
His appeal comes amidst rebellion by a few withinthe party against giving tickets to the disqualified MLAs.
On Thursday, Sharath Bachegowda in Hoskote filed nomination as an independent candidate, while former party MLAfrom Kagwad - Raju Kage joined Congress.
Yediyurappa also expressed confidence about winning all the 15 seats.
Fifteen out of the 17 constituencies represented by these MLAs will be going for bypolls, while by-elections to Maski and R R Nagar constituencies have been withheld as litigations related to them are pending before theKarnataka High Court.
Of the 15 seats, as many as 12 were represented by Congress and three by the JD(S).
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.
Kerala lynching: CM assures justice, CPI (M) targets RSS-BJP over incident
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala government on Monday assured stringent action in the mob lynching of a Chattisgarh native mistaken to be a thief, and promised justice to the family, even as the ruling CPI(M) targeted the RSS over the assault, a charge denied by the BJP.
Ramnarayan (31), was allegedly beaten to death on Wednesday after being accused of involvement in theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar in Palakkad district.
With the issue sending shock waves across the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday described the incident as "deeply disturbing".
Assuring justice to his family, who have arrived in the state, Vijayan said such acts tarnish the reputation of a progressive society like Kerala and are completely unacceptable.
State minister M B Rajesh claimed racial slurs were made at the victim and that the attackers were RSS workers. Ruling CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan also alleged that RSS-BJP workers were behind the crime.
ALSO READ: After Hadi, another Bangladesh student leader shot in head
In a statement issued by the CM's office, Vijayan said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the crime.
A special investigation team of the district police is probing the incident, he said, adding that instructions have been issued to thoroughly examine the details of the case and initiate all necessary legal proceedings.
The government will also review the matter and ensure appropriate compensation to the victim's family, Vijayan added.
He called for collective vigilance to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
His remarks came a day after opposition Congress and the victim's family demanded compensation and an investigation under stringent laws, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The brother of deceased man told reporters on Sunday that the family would not accept the body until their demands, including compensation of Rs 25 lakh, are met.
Kerala ministers K Rajan and Rajesh strongly condemned the incident and said it was not just a mob lynching case but racial abuse was involved in it.
The ministers said the accused had attacked the deceased man, calling him a "Bangladeshi" and beat him to death.
"The government will ensure a foolproof probe into the incident, and no one involved in the crime will be spared," Revenue Minister Rajan told reporters in Thrissur.
He said an amount not less than Rs 10 lakh would be granted from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the deceased man's family and a cabinet meeting would take a decision in this regard.
LSGD Minister Rajesh also said Ramnarayan was branded as a Bangladeshi by the attackers.
While talking to reporters in Palakkad, he alleged that those who brutally assaulted and killed Ramnarayan were RSS workers.
The Chhattisgarh native, who reached Kerala in search of a job, became a victim of the "divisive politics" of Sangh Parivar, Rajesh further alleged.
"Branding a person as Bangladeshi came from racial politics. Ramnarayan was a victim of the racial poison spread by the Sangh Parivar in the country," he charged.
Rajesh also accused a section of the media of hiding the involvement of the RSS in the assault.
Stepping up the attack against the right-wing groups, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that RSS-BJP workers were the ones behind the crime.
"Those involved in the incident were accused in various criminal cases of RSS. All of them were identified. Such cruelties should not be allowed to repeat in the state," he said.
Expressing strong protest, the senior leader further said a society which believes in democratic values and secular principles cannot accept such crimes.
Senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan strongly rejected the charges against the saffron party and the RSS.
"Actually, why is politics mixed in such crimes. When a heinous crime like mob lynching happens, should it not be treated as an anti-social act," he told reporters here.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan urged the government to take urgent steps to provide financial assistance to the family of Ramnarayan.
Meanwhile, Palakkad Superintendent of Police Ajit Kumar said at present, the case was registered under sections of murder, and after a detailed probe, more would be added.
After verifying the caste certificate of the deceased man, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would also be invoked, he told reporters in Palakkad.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the DSP (district crime branch) to probe the mob lynching incident. The SIT will be under the direction and supervision of the Pakakkad SP, he added.
ALSO READ: 17-year-old PUC student in Shivamogga drowns while swimming in River Tunga
When reporters asked about the political background of the accused persons, the officer said it was being verified.
He said that the arrested persons were already facing police cases.
Five people have been arrested so far for allegedly beating Ramnarayan to death on suspicion of theft.
The injured man was rushed to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
