Atishi alleges CM Rekha Gupta's husband running government affairs, shares photo
New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI): A fresh political row erupted in the national capital on Saturday after the Leader of Opposition Atishi alleged the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's husband in an official meeting involving senior officers MCD, DJB, PWD, and DUSIB.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva in response accused Atishi of making an "insulting" remark.
In his post on X, Sachdeva defended Rekha Gupta, saying she had risen through the ranks with "hard work and determination" and that it was "perfectly normal" for family members to support public representatives.
Sharing a photo on X, Atishi alleged that the Delhi government was being run by the chief minister's husband, comparing the situation to what is often seen in villages.
"Look at this photo carefully. The person who is taking the meeting of the officers of MCD, DJB, PWD and DUSIB is the husband of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta," Atishi said in her post.
"Earlier we used to hear that if a woman Sarpanch was elected in the village, then all the government work would be handled by her husband... But this must be the first time in the history of the country that a woman has become the Chief Minister and all the government work is being handled by her husband," she added.
Atishi also wondered if frequent power cuts and hikes in private school fees had behind them the role of her husband in the administration.
In response, Sachdeva said, "Atishi being a woman yourself, it is surprising you are insulting another woman leader. Rekha Gupta has worked her way up from DUSU Secretary to Delhi CM. Her husband supporting her is neither illegal nor unethical."
Sachdeva also pointed out instances where AAP leaders' spouses had been involved in political affairs, including Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal addressing the public from the CM's office following Kejriwal's arrest.
"Was that not an insult to democracy?" Sachdeva asked.
सुश्री @AtishiAAP आपकी यह X Post देख कर आश्चर्यचकित हूं की एक महिला होते हुए आपने - अपने खुद के परिश्रम से जन सेवा के संकल्प के साथ डूसू छात्रसंघ सचिव से लेकर दिल्ली के मुख्य मंत्री पद तक की यात्रा पूर्ण करने वाली श्रीमती @gupta_rekha जी के प्रति अपमान जनक कटाक्ष किया है।
— Virendraa Sachdeva (@Virend_Sachdeva) April 12, 2025
रेखा… https://t.co/hHd5Gd1WM8 pic.twitter.com/BhvX0YrKch
यह फोटो ध्यान से देखिए। जो व्यक्ति MCD, DJB, PWD और DUSIB के अफसरों की मीटिंग ले रहे हैं, यह दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री रेखा गुप्ता जी के पति मनीष गुप्ता जी हैं।
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) April 12, 2025
हम पहले सुनते थे कि अगर गाँव में एक महिला सरपंच चुन कर आती थी, तो सारा सरकारी काम उसका पति संभालता था। ऐसा कहा जाता था कि… pic.twitter.com/ARMX8u98WR
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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.
