Decision on alliance for civic polls to be taken at local level: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said decisions regarding tie-ups with the BJP's allies for the coming civic elections would be taken at the local level.
Speaking to reporters after a review meeting with party leaders here, Fadnavis said, "We held a review meeting for Western Maharashtra, and will hold another meeting for Konkan region in Mumbai. We discussed the party's strength in the last civic body elections and the current position.
" For an alliance with the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, we are discussing the matter with local leaders. Directions for the next steps will be given only after receiving inputs from our party units," he added.
Wherever possible, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP would form an alliance before the elections, he said.
"There could be a few seats where an alliance cannot be formed, but there will not be any extreme criticism of our allies (during the campaign). Clear directives to this effect have been given," Fadnavis said.
A similar review meeting was recently held in Nashik for north Maharashtra.
On the issue of new entrants ahead of the local body polls, Fadnavis said, "If a strong worker wishes to join the BJP, our stand is to welcome such a person. Our existing workers are accommodative, which is why the BJP has grown into such a large organisation. In some instances, local leaders get upset, but we try to convince them, and they do listen to us."
On BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar's harsh criticism of NCP (SP) leader and former minister Jayant Patil, Fadnavis said, "We are against making personal remarks. We have conveyed this to Padalkar as well. Minister Chandrakant Patil has taken the initiative to end personal mud-slinging."
Asked about the financial aid for rain-affected farmers in Marathwada, Fadnavis said, "Some people have already received the cash component of the package announced for farmers. We are taking steps to ensure that most of the affected people receive financial assistance before Diwali. Some may receive it later."
When asked about the formation of a new working committee under the new state BJP chief Ravindra Chavan, Fadnavis said there were no obstacles in the process. "It could be finalised and announced in the next 8 to 10 days," he said.
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Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
