No differences in BJP Karnataka unit, says BJP leader Arun Singh
Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa letter row
Mangaluru, Apr 8: BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Arun Singh said on Thursday there were no differences between Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and senior Minister K S Eshwarappa.
Talking to reporters at the airport here, Singh said he had spoken to Eshwarappa and cleared the air.
There was no confusion in the party and all leaders were united, he said.
State Rural Development Minister Eshwarappa had recently kicked up a row in the party by writing to the state Governor against the Chief Minister, complaining that the latter was interfering in the affairs of his department.
Singh, however, said Eshwarappa should not have written such a letter to the Governor.
Singh said he will be campaigning for the April 17 by-elections to the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat and two assembly constituencies of Basavakalyan and Muski in the next three days.
"The Congress is certain to lose in all the three seats," he claimed.
BJP workers were working hard to ensure the victory of party candidates and the good works done by the Yediyurappa government will be reflected in the poll results, he said.
He declined to comment on the statement of rebel MLA Basanagouda Yatnal that there will be leadership change in the government soon.
Singh later proceeded to attend a private function of BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel.
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EC will leave no stone unturned to hold free, fair elections in West Bengal: CEC Kumar
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday asserted that the Election Commission will leave no stone unturned in holding free, fair and transparent polls in West Bengal where the first phase of voting is scheduled to be held on April 23.
Interacting with officials involved in poll management, the CEC said the elections will be fear-free, violence-free and intimidation-free.
Officials said the poll authority will ensure elections are also inducement-free and "booth jamming free".
No employee of the state government, local bodies or autonomous bodies will be allowed to influence the electoral process, they said.
The ruling TMC in the state has accused the EC of playing in the hands of the BJP, a charge vehemently rejected by the election watchdog.
The EC and the TMC have also been at loggerheads over the special intensive revision of voters' list with the party accusing the poll authority of deliberately disenfranchising voters to benefit the BJP. Both the EC and the BJP have rejected the charge while dubbing it as baseless.
The second phase of voting in West Bengal will be held on April 29 and votes will be counted on May 4.
