CM Stalin will decide, Udhayanidhi says on his elevation in Cabinet
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will take a decision on elevating him as deputy CM, ruling DMK's youth wing secretary and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said here on Wednesday.
When reporters sought his reaction to an excitement among party cadres that his elevation in the cabinet was imminent, he said, "chief minister will take a decision."
When journalists told the minister that party workers had gathered at party headquarters, "Anna Arivalayam," with firecrackers to celebrate, he said he could not visit the head office on Wednesday as he had gone to Anna Centenary Library.
Furthermore, he said cadres and party's high-level panel member S S Palanimanickam (at the party's 75th founding anniversary on Tuesday) have expressed their wish that he be designated deputy chief minister. All ministers will always assist the chief minister and "this is (making him deputy cm), out-and-out, the decision of the chief minister, his prerogative."
To another question related to him becoming the deputy cm, he asserted, "we will talk about that provided there is an announcement."
Days ago, CM Stalin hinted at a cabinet reshuffle and had said that 'what is expected will happen.' For long, there has been a speculation that Udhayanidhi, Stalin's son, would soon be made deputy cm by the ruling party.
On actor Vijay, who has recently formed a political party (Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam) paying floral tributes, for the first time, to reformist leader Periyar EV Ramasamy on his birth anniversary on Tuesday, Udhayanidhi said no one could do politics in the state without following the iconic leader's principles.
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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.
