'Bharat Jodo Yatra' posters found torn a day before its Karnataka entry
Chamarajanagar, Sept 29: Some posters put up to welcome leaders to the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' were found to be torn at Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district on Thursday, a day before it is set to enter Karnataka.
Reacting sharply, the Congress said, "The 40% Commission Bommai Govt is already getting the jitters".
The BJP's Bharat Todo Team of paid goons has been pressed into service to destruct, destroy and tear up posters, the Congress incharge of Karnataka Affairs, Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged.
"They'll never be able to stop the war cry against Price Rise, Unemployment, Disparity & Divisiveness", he tweeted.
Congress state president D K Shivakumar alleged that a few posters were torn and burnt by the BJP.
"Preparations are afoot to receive the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' but the BJP people have torn and burnt some banners. We will not be cowed down. We have faced enough of such things. They (BJP) should know this," Shivakumar told reporters in Chamarajanagar.
He demanded that the police initiate action against those who tore the banners.
"Let them (police) refuse to take action, then we will speak rest of the things," Shivakumar said.
The Congress lodged a police complaint in this connection in the police station concerned, sources close to the Congress state president said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: "All know who is doing 'Bharat Jodo' and who's doing 'Thodo".
Addressing reporters in the district headquarters town of Haveri, Bommai said let Shivakumar comment on the incident, permission must be obtained for putting up posters.
The BJP need not tear the posters of any political party. Since people knew "everything," there was no need for him to say much about it, the Chief Minister said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
