Four police personnel injured in clash with BJP at Durgapur
Durgapur(WB), Nov 1(PTI) Four police personnel and several others were injured in clashes with BJP activists on Thursday over a proposed rally here which was allegedly being organised without proper permission.
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed that the owner of the ground had granted permission for holding the rally but the district police administration had declined to grant it in the last minute citing "baseless" reasons.
The police declined to comment on the reason for which the permission for the rally was declined.
The clash took place this morning after BJP leaders tried to hold the rally at a ground near the industrial town without any proper permission, the police said.
When police along with the civic police tried to stop the BJP activists from conducting the rally by taking away the microphone, clashes broke out between the two sides.
"Four police personnel and others were injured. We have started an investigation," said a police official.
Television footages showed BJP activists attacking civic police personnel with bamboo sticks and the police resorting to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
The BJP leadership said that as the police had denied them permission at the last moment the rally was organised on a makeshift dais mounted on a vehicle.
"Because it was a BJP rally, we were denied permission at the last moment. Had it been a TMC rally, the police would have immediately given the permission.
"The TMC government is using the police as a political tool to stifle the voice of opposition," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.
Mayor of Asansol and senior TMC leader Jitendra Nath Tiwari criticised BJP for not following rules and questioned BJP for "forcibly" holding a rally without any proper permission.
"How can any party hold a rally without permission from the police? It is for the police to decide who will get permission. Had there been a law and order problem who would have taken the responsibility?" he said.
The TMC leadership said it will hold a protest rally in the same area on November 3 against the "hooliganism" of BJP.
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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.
