There Will be No Further Elections if BJP is Voted Back to Power in 2019, Says Akhilesh Yadav
'find a drain and a ‘kadai’ (utensil) to fry ‘pakodas’ says SP Leader'
Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said there would be no elections in the future if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) return to power in 2019.
Addressing a gathering in his hometown Saifai while welcoming the ‘Samajik Nyay Yatra’ cycle rally from Ghazipur, Yadav said people should “find a drain and a ‘kadai’ (utensil) to fry ‘pakodas’ if the BJP comes back to power in 2019”.
The former chief minister said, “The government in Delhi [Centre] today is trying to kill democracy. Not just us, but many social thinkers and their friends are saying that if the BJP is voted back to power in 2019, then democracy might cease to exist in this country. There may be no elections in the future. So the entire Opposition has just one chance to save democracy in 2019.”
He added, “Looking at the statements made by BJP leaders and specially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it seems there is no one more backward than him. He always claims that he comes from a backward community. If he is backward, then we are definitely more backward than him.
“The BJP has poisoned the atmosphere of the country by indulging in caste politics. People have seen both the Centre and state BJP governments and it must be quite clear to them that both have done nothing concrete.”
Yadav said 2019 was “an exam and if we fail in our exam, then we must look for a naali (drain) and kadhai as we will have to fry pakodas together then”.
He said the BJP wanted to take the country back, while “we want the progress of our nation. We all should also understand that 2019 will also pave way for 2022. The BJP will try to take votes by conspiring and misguiding but we will have to be vigilant”.
Taking potshots at the recent statement made by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on the issue of excessive sugarcane produce, Yadav said: “Our chief minister is also an amazing doctor, without any kind of tests he can tell you that diabetes is caused by excessive sugarcane produce.”
Courtesy: www.news18.com
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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.
