First time Karnataka slashing petrol, diesel prices by Rs 7 in one go: CM Basavaraj Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said never ever in the history of Karnataka petrol and diesel prices were reduced by Rs 7 per litre as his government has done.
"Check the records. Fuel price hike is not new but it has been happening. Never ever in the history of Karnataka, no one reduced petrol and diesel prices by Rs 7 per litre in one go. Our government reduced it in a record manner," Bommai told reporters in Bengaluru.
He was reacting to the query on the opposition charges that the state government reduced the fuel prices following the defeat of BJP candidate Shivaraj Sajjanar in the Hangal assembly bypoll at the hands of Congress candidate Srinivas Mane.
Bommai said if it had happened before the bypolls, then the Congress would have said that the reduction was done keeping the elections in mind.
"Instead of appreciating the decrease in fuel prices, which reduced burden on people, the opposition is criticising it. This shows their concern for people," Bommai said.
He added that people will not accept the opposition for making such remarks just for the sake of commenting.
The Chief Minister claimed that the Congress has refused to reduce fuel prices in the states where it is ruling, which shows their anti-people stand.
He challenged the Congress Karnataka unit leaders to explain their stand on fuel prices in states where they are in government.
Taking a cue from the Central government slashing petrol and diesel prices on Wednesday, the state government announced decreasing petrol and diesel prices by Rs 7 per litre.
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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.
