Win Amethi first, TRS tells Rahul for comments on KCR's national ambitions; Congress hits back
Hyderabad (PTI): The ruling TRS on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the former's national ambitions, with senior party leader KT Rama Rao pointing out at the Gandhi-scion's loss in Amethi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress shot back at the TRS, saying "we know that here in Hyderabad eighth Nizam sits."
TRS Working President and IT Minister Rama Rao said Rahul Gandhi who lost his Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2019 has no stature to criticise Telangana Chief Minister and his father K Chandrasekhar Rao's (KCR) national party ambitions.
"International leader Rahul Gandhi who can't even win his own parliament seat in Amethi ridicules Telangana CM KCR Ji's national party ambitions. Wannabe PM should first convince his people to elect him as an MP (from Amethi)," KTR tweeted.
Rahul contested from both Amethi (UP) and Kerala's Wayanad in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, and won from the latter.
The former Congress chief, who is leading the party's Bharat Jodo yatra, on Monday took a jibe at KCR and said the Telangana CM is even welcome to think he is running an international party that is fighting elections in the US or China.
Reacting to KTR's criticism, senior congress leader Jairam Ramesh said there is nothing wrong in Rahul's comments on KCR's national ambitions.
Replying to a query on the subject at a press conference here, Ramesh said according to Gandhi's views, KCR's party can become "GRS" (Global Rashtra Samithi) also and Congress has nothing to do with it.
Ramesh further said KCR can do whatever he wants to do as India is a democratic country.
"Congress party is not a Nizam Shahi Party. We know that here in Hyderabad eighth Nizam sits," the Congress leader said in an apparent reference to KCR.
He alleged some TRS leaders were involved in a passport scam of 2007.
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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.
