DK Shivakumar accuses BJP of endangering democratic system
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused the BJP of misusing the Constitution and acting in ways that endanger India's democratic system. He claimed that the BJP is attempting to convert governors into their agents, further threatening the democratic fabric of the country.
Shivakumar made these remarks while speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi near Seshadripuram Junction on Tuesday.
When questioned about the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) submission of a charge sheet against HD Kumaraswamy to the Governor and the Governor's subsequent response, Shivakumar stated, "I am not the spokesperson for the Governor or the Lokayukta. I am a representative of the Congress party. Therefore, I will comment on the Kumaraswamy case only after gathering full details."
In addition to his comments on the BJP, Shivakumar also spoke about the importance of Rajiv Gandhi's contributions to modern India. "Rajiv Gandhi's ideas continue to inspire today's youth. As the Bengaluru Development Minister, I approved the construction of a new statue of Rajiv Gandhi and named the Seshadripuram signal-free junction in his honor. This was inaugurated by AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," he said.
Shivakumar highlighted Rajiv Gandhi's legacy, mentioning the voting rights for 18-year-olds, the Panchayati Raj Amendment, and the IT and BT growth in India. "Today, everyone has two mobile phones, thanks to Rajiv Gandhi's visionary telephone revolution," he added.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
