Panel found lapses, corruption in Covid-19 management in Karnataka: Minister Kharge
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister of Information Technology Priyank Kharge said on Monday that, in an informal meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, Justice John Michael Cunha Commission chief told the CM that the procedural lapses, dereliction by officials and corruption in Covid-19 management when the BJP was in power were found.
Kharge said that the Commission head handed the CM a 1,722-page report on the procurement of Covid-19 supplies worth Rs. 7,223 crore, reports Deccan Herald. Stating that he was present during the meeting on Saturday, the minister added that he was unaware of the details given in the report and would get more information only when the CM presented the report before the Cabinet.
He said that the CM had presented a trailer in the Assembly, with a list of 21 scams during the tenure of the previous BJP government, and added that the current Congress government in Karnataka would end all these scams. The minister also said that the state government was yet to raise the issue of the scam at the Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd.
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Kharge expressed ire that, in some cases, central agencies were meddling with the government efforts to end scams in Karnataka, accusing the BJP of misusing the CBI, IT, ED and Raj Bhavan, although the state government was not at fault. He also alleged that the BJP was involved in corruption.
Referring to BJP member and former Health Minister of Karnataka Dr. K Sudhakar’s announcement of a legal battle against the Congress, Kharge asked what the BJP’s source of information was, as the members of the Congress were yet to learn about the contents of the report submitted by Justice John Michael Cunha Commission. He also asked why Sudhakar was speaking about a legal fight against the government when it had not named anyone. The minister, however, stressed that the state government had considered an investigation into the irregularities during the pandemic necessary.
Large and Medium Industries MB Patil alleged that the BJP government had indulged in mega loot during the Covid-19 outbreak, instead of showing its humanitarian concerns. Dr. Sudhakar was involved in hoarding huge amounts of money even as the people suffered, Patil opined.
In Tumakuru, Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara told reporters that the term of the Commission probing the irregularities during the pandemic had been extended by eight months.
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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
