Tamil Nadu govt launches tomato sales through fairprice shops to offset prices
Chennai (PTI): Seeking to offset the soaring price of tomatoes, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday launched the sale of the precious commodity at Rs 60 a kilo at 82 fair price shops in the city.
This initiative would be extended to other parts of the state if required, Minister for Cooperatives K R Periyakaruppan said.
The latest move is in addition to the Pannai Pasumai (Farm Fresh) outlets in Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Vellore making tomatoes available at Rs 60 per kilo, he said.
The decision to sell tomatoes through the ration shops was made at a meeting chaired by the Minister at the secretariat on Monday evening. Also, the Minister directed the Cooperatives and horticulture department officials to identify the tomato cultivation areas and ensure an uninterrupted supply to the consumers across Tamil Nadu.
At the meeting, it was informed that a decline in the arrivals of tomatoes from the neighbouring states triggered a hike in the prices.
According to a source in the Koyambedu wholesale market here, tomatoes were being sold at a retail price of Rs 110 per kg and in certain areas in the city the price was higher.
An official in the Cooperatives department said it has been planned to provide a family one kilo of tomatoes a day. In the first phase, it will be sold at 32 locations in north Chennai, and 25 FP shops each in central and south Chennai areas.
Further, depending upon the requirement, steps would be taken to make tomatoes available through the fair price shops in other parts of the state, the Minister said and added "efforts are on to stabilise the price soon."
The sale at the Pannai Pasumai outlets was launched recently based on the instructions from Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Not just tomatoes, the prices of green chillies, garlic, coriander and ginger too soared and they are being sold between Rs 150 to Rs 200 a kilo.
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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.
