BJP candidate’s wife seeks votes in the name of Hindutva
Video goes viral
Mangaluru: The video of the Mangalore South constituency’s BJP candidate Vedavyas Kamat's wife seeking votes in the name of Hindutva, which has gone viral on social networking sites, has created controversy.
In the video, several women have come to seek votes for BJP. Among them, a woman says “Mangaluru South constituency’s BJP candidate Vedavyas Kamat’s wife has come to you to seek votes, she will address you.”
In the video clip, one can find Kamat’s wife saying “I am the wife of Vedavyas Kamat, who is a candidate from Mangalore South constituency. You all should vote for him so that he could win with a huge majority. This time, BJP’s government must come here and in Delhi as well. You all know very well that to save Hindutva, we need BJP Government. Thank you.” Then those who accompanied her raised "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogan.
In another video, a woman is seeking votes by saying “In the present situation, we cannot say whether our girls will return to home once after they go out. You know what all we are witnessing. What was the condition of Akshata? Whether our boys will return home after going out, it cannot be said. Sharat Madiwal, Deepak Rao… What is the guarantee whether our children will return home after going out... That is why; once again Congress government should not come (to power). If BJP comes to power, it will be good for Hindutva’s betterment and it will be possible to save our culture. What happened after the Congress came to power… orders were issued to governmentalize the mutts and temples that we worship. Would BJP have done this… Had such things happened during Yeddyurappa’s government… No right... Then why this is happening now? The money that comes to our temple, they are spending it on other religions and other parties. This time BJP government must come if we want to save our temples’ money with us. Yeddyurappa’s government must come. This is only possible if Vedavyas Kamat wins from Mangaluru South constituency. BJP’s government must come for the protection of our girls, men and to save our temples.”
This video was filmed at a house. It is visible in the video that the BJP candidate Vedavyas’ wife is present on the spot while a woman was speaking . However, Vartha Bharati does not have the specific information regarding when and where these videos were shot.
Seeking votes in the name of religion and caste is the violation of the Election Model Code of Conduct. The seven-judge Constitution bench, headed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, has ruled that seeking votes in the name of religion, caste or community amounted to corrupt practice and election of a candidate who indulged in it can be set aside.
We will file a complaint against seeking votes in the name of Hindutva: Vinay Raj
It has come to our notice that the wife of the BJP candidate from Mangalore South has been seeking votes in the name of Hindutva. We have decided to file a complaint with the Election Commission today, said district Congress spokesperson and lawyer Vinayraj.
He further said "We too have seen the videos that are seeking votes by violating the code of conduct. We will complain about this. Our city will not progress in the name of any caste, religion. Rather it will be developed on the basis of progressive works. If they ask for votes from Mangaluru's developmental perspective, people will feel that they are concerned about the city. Instead, if votes are sought on Hindutva card, it will be a matter of dividing people of the city."
"Seeking votes this way shows that they are not concerned about the improvement and development of Mangalore. What people need is drinking water, development of roads, electrification etc. Instead of that; seeking votes in the name of God, Hinduism, religion, and cattle do not favour development. Rather it divides the society, "Vinayraj responded.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
