‘Bellad showed right way to new generation politicians’, says CM on BJP MLA’s apology
Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah stated that BJP MLA Aravind Bellad had apologized for using abusive words and he warmly welcomed the move. He took to X to express his gladness for a rare political gesture, on Tuesday.
“Criticism [and] disagreements are common in politics. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, a statement that insults another person's dignity comes and goes without [us] realizing it. Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad levelled a personal abuse at me while speaking against our government's decision to grant land to the Jindal Company. Realizing his mistake, he apologized through a letter. I welcome this move of his with the utmost openness, and hereby convey that I have neither hatred nor resentment in my heart towards him”, Siddaramaiah wrote in the post.
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The CM said that he too had done the same mistake of using ‘singular-terms’ against his opponents earlier, which he had regretted later. He had taken care that it didn’t happen again, he said. Despite being on the receiving end of personal abuse many times in his 40-year long political career, Siddaramaiah said that it was the first time that a politician had ever apologized on his own for making such comments. Through the written apology, Bellad “has showed the right way to a new generation of politicians”, he said.
Remembering his enduring friendship with the MLA’s father Chandrakanta Bellad, Siddaramaiah called him a gentleman politician. “May Arvind continue his legacy of gentlemanliness”, he added.
Siddaramaiah said that when politics had become only criticisms, accusations and counter-accusations during these days, Arvind Bellad’s actions symbolized the existence of an honourable way of doing things. “The saying ‘there is no greater atonement than repentance’ makes more sense in this context”, he added.
ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಟೀಕೆ, ಟಿಪ್ಪಣಿಗಳು ಸಹಜ. ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಉದ್ವೇಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರ ಘನತೆಗೆ ಚ್ಯುತಿ ತರುವಂತಹ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಬಾರದೆಯೇ ಬಂದು ಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 3, 2024
ಜಿಂದಾಲ್ ಕಂಪನಿಗೆ ಭೂಮಿ ನೀಡಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ತೀರ್ಮಾನವನ್ನು ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುವಾಗ ವಿರೋಧ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಉಪನಾಯಕರಾದ ಅರವಿಂದ ಬೆಲ್ಲದ್ ಅವರು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನಿಂದನೆ… pic.twitter.com/4tmH5OpGdz
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Mamata asks TMC nominees not to leave counting centres as EC data shows BJP leading
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant and not to leave counting centres, alleging that there was a "game plan" by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the saffron party taking a lead in the early trends of counting.
In a video message issued during the counting of votes, the TMC supremo appealed to party workers to stay put and not to lose morale.
"I appeal to everyone that neither TMC candidates nor counting agents should abandon counting centres," she said.
As trends on the Election Commission website indicated the BJP leading in 188 seats against the TMC's 94, Banerjee maintained that her party was still ahead in a significant number of constituencies.
"We are still ahead in 170 seats, but I request everyone not to lose hope," she said, adding that there were "around 70 to 100 seats where we are leading, but they are not sharing the data of those seats".
"A false narrative is being spread," she alleged.
The chief minister accused the Election Commission of "not declaring results or leads" in areas where the TMC was ahead.
"This is a game plan by the EC and the BJP as it (poll panel) is not declaring results or leads in areas where we are leading," she said.
Banerjee also alleged irregularities in the counting process at some locations.
"In several places, counting has been stopped after the first two to three rounds. In Kalyani, we have caught seven machines with severe anomalies," she claimed.
She further alleged that TMC workers were being "harassed with the help of central forces" and that party offices were being "vandalised and forcefully captured".
"With the help of central forces, they are harassing and torturing AITC workers. Our offices have been vandalised," she said, also alleging that voter list revision exercises were "purposefully done to target seats where we were strong".
Seeking to reassure party workers, Banerjee said more rounds of counting were yet to take place and urged them to stay firm.
"Fourteen to eighteen rounds of counting will happen. You will surely emerge victorious. Don't be afraid; fight like tigers," she said.
Her remarks came as counting trends suggested that the BJP was leading in 188 seats and had crossed the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member assembly, pointing to a potential shift in the state's political landscape.
Counting for 293 constituencies was underway with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes.
Officials cautioned that trends could change as more rounds are counted, and final results would be known later in the day.
জরুরি বার্তা pic.twitter.com/Uc82oihwEL
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2026
