BJP MLAs' meeting triggers speculations; CM rejects reports of convening emergency meet
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday dismissed reports that he has convened an emergency meeting of a section of BJP MLAs after a group of party legislators met in Belagavi, fuelling speculations about fresh discontentment in the ruling camp.
The MLAs from North Karnataka met at the residence of former MP Ramesh Katti at Bellad Bagewadi in Belagavi district on Thursday evening in the backdrop of coming elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from the state, according to party sources.
The gathering is seen as a move to drum up support for Ramesh Katti, brother of senior MLA Umesh Katti who was among the ministerial aspirants, in getting one of the four seats.
It led to speculations about a fresh bout of discontent among a section of ruling party MLAs, who missed out on ministerial berths when Yediyurappa came back to power in June last year after the collapse of JDS-Congress coalition government.
The meeting also triggered reports in a section of media that the Chief Minister would hold a meeting with a few legislators, apparently to placate them, a claim rejected by Yediyurappa.
"I have noticed reports being aired by some news channels that I have convened an emergency meeting with a few legislators. It is far from the truth. I would like to clarify that I have not convened any such meeting," he tweeted on Friday.
Confirming that the meeting took place at his residence, Ramesh Katti, however, sought to dismiss any link to the Rajya Sabha polls and said only a feast was organized.
Talking to reporters here, he, however, recalled that his brother Umesh Katti, a senior BJP MLA from Hukkeri, was not given a ministerial position in the Yediyurappa government.
According to him, Yediyurappa had assured Umesh Katti that he (Ramesh Katti) would be made a Rajya Sabha member.
"Recently my brother met the Chief Minister and reminded him about it (Rajya Sabha seat) and he too assured him that he will do it," Katti said.
Umesh Katti maintained no politics was discussed at the meeting.
"We had not met for quite a long time so the feast was an occasion for a get-together. We did not discuss politics or anything related to discontentment or rebellion. I am responsible for MLA. I know that this is not appropriate to discuss such things during this time."
Vijayapura BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, among those who attended the meeting, expressed his dissatisfaction with Yediyurappa, saying some works had not been completed despite the legislators taking them up with the chief minister but did not elaborate on the works.
The MLAs who attended the meeting shared their "joy and pain". "Being MLAs we ask the Chief Minister to get some works done but how many times can we ask," he told reporters here.
When asked whether Yediyurappa should continue as the Chief Minister, Patil said he would not talk about it in the media.
"I will tell only our senior party leaders. I will tell them whatever is in the best interest of the state in clear terms. We will abide by our high command... If they say the Chief Minister should continue to let it be so and if they want to change the leadership, we will abide by it," he added.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
