BJP-JD(S) alliance will win all 28 seats in Lok Sabha elections next year: HD Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka with its new ally Janata Dal (Secular) on Sunday resolved to win all the 28 seats in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which is about six months away.
In a further display of bonhomie, the BJP state president B Y Vijayendra on Sunday called on former chief minister and JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy at his Bidadi farm here and held talks.
Later, the two leaders told reporters after the meeting that they discussed various issues including the Lok Sabha elections, the alliance between the two parties and the current political development in the state.
''In the interests of the country, we have discussed that Narendra Modi should be the Prime Minister for the next term as well. Seat sharing will be discussed at the High Command level. Our alliance will win 28 out of 28 seats in the state,'' Kumaraswamy said.
Recalling the coalition government of the BJP and the JD(S) in 2006, the JD(S) state chief said he and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had done excellent work together. It is the wish of the people of the state that it should be repeated, he added.
''Vijayendra, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, me along with all the leaders of both the parties will work hard to bring back the good days of 2006-07,'' said the former Chief Minister.
Both Vijayendra and Nikhil Kumaraswamy will tour the state like brothers, the JD(S) leader said, adding that both the parties will strive together and highlight the mistakes of the ruling party with documentary evidence.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijayendra said there will not be a single Congress member from Karnataka in the Lok Sabha as the coalition will win all the 28 seats.
''We discussed teaching a lesson to the corrupt Congress government,'' Vijayendra said.
He also said the seniors will discuss seat-sharing in Delhi.
Vijayendra, who is a Shikaripur MLA and Yediyurappa's son, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Kumarswamy have already discussed in Delhi.
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.
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.
