BJP may consider moving no-confidence motion if Cong power tussle continues: Basavaraj Bommai
Haveri (PTI): Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the opposition BJP in the state may consider moving a no-confidence motion in the Assembly if the power tussle in the Congress continues.
The BJP leader also predicted that a 'dark horse' may enter the race in the wake of the fight for the CM post between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.
The Haveri BJP MP said the Congress high command had proposed two to three formulas to resolve the impasse over the leadership issue.
"If the Congress party's internal tussle for the posts of chief minister and deputy chief minister continues like this, there are chances of political turmoil in the State. Though senior Congress leaders at the Centre have proposed two to three formulas to resolve the issue and neither of the leaders has agreed to any. There is information that a new formula is being prepared by keeping both of them aside. There is a possibility of a dark horse entering the race," Bommai told reporters here in Haveri.
The MP said the tug-of-war within the Congress for the top post has intensified, and the Congress high command is helpless.
"The administration in the state has completely collapsed. Farmers in the State are in distress, and development works have come to a standstill. Both leaders have taken this as a matter of prestige. If this same situation continues, there is a possibility of political instability in the State," he noted.
According to him, anything can happen in State politics.
"A horse that is not visible now may appear. The horse that is seen in the photograph will not run. Anything can happen in the State," he remarked.
When asked whether the BJP would move a no-confidence motion against the state government during the Belagavi session of the legislature, he said, "There is time till December 8. If such a situation arises, the occasion to move a no-confidence motion may come".
Responding to state Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s remark that horse trading is BJP’s job and not that of Congress, Bommai said, "The Congress has been involved in horse trading since 1969. At that time, Jarkiholi was not even in politics. If one looks at the history of Congress, it will be clear. Don’t they remember that D K Shivakumar had brought all the Maharashtra MLAs and kept Vilasrao Deshmukh under control?" he questioned.
Replying to a question about the state government accusing the Centre regarding the purchase of maize, he said, "Simply trying to shift the blame on the Centre is wrong. They themselves do not have money. The chief minister has ordered the purchase of 10 lakh metric tonnes. Why are they not purchasing? Why has no agency been finalised? Why has money not been released? They are trying to escape from their own responsibility."
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ED raids Kolkata Police deputy commissioner, businessman in PMLA probe
Kolkata (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday conducted raids at the premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his linked syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.
Two premises of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge area and one location of the businessman named Joy Kamdar, Managing Director of a company named Sun Enterprise, have been raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kamdar has been taken by the officials to the local ED office for questioning. Biswas, chief coordinator and nodal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police welfare committee, was not present at his premises, they said.
The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion.
The federal probe agency had conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.
The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.
The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations. The accused, including Podder, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in the state of West Bengal and generated funds illegally by way of syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.
Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence in Kankulia road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run.
The ED has issued summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.
West Bengal will have a two phase poll on April 23 and April 29.
