'BSP to contest all 28 LS seats in Karnataka if no poll alliance': MLA N Mahesh
Bengaluru, Jan 31: BSP chief Mayawati is yet to take a call on an alliance in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha polls and if a tie up did not work out, they would go it alone in all 28 seats, the party's lone MLA N Mahesh said here Thursday.
"We will contest (Lok Sabha polls); Behenji (Mayawati) has to say...if there is an alliance we will contest in those seats we get. If there is no alliance, we will contest in all 28 seats," he told reporters here.
Mahesh said the process of identifying candidates for the Lok Sabha polls are on and a final decision would be taken at the party's state committee on February 2.
Bahujan Samaj Party leaders, including Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth and in-charge of Karnataka M L Tomar are expected to attend the meeting, he added.
BSP contested in 18 seats during the May 2018 assembly polls in Karnataka as per the alliance arrangement reached with JD(S), which contested in 200 seats and won 37.
Following a fractured verdict, JD(S) joined hands with Congress to form the coalition government.
Mahesh said the party has potential in seats like Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Bidar, Gulbarga, Chikkodi, Raichur, Chikkaballapura, but would wait to see how a possible alliance takes shape before taking a decision on these seats.
JD(S), which is scheduled to begin seat sharing talks with Congress in the first week on February, has said it intends to contest in 10-12 seats of the total of 28 seats.
However, the Congress is opposed to this and has made it clear that seat sharing will be based on "merit".
Mahesh clarified that he would not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls.
Asked if he would come back to the state cabinet after quitting as Primary and Secondary Education Minister last October, citing personal reasons, he said, "Behanji has to take a call, whatever she says(will act accordingly)."
Mahesh had said after quitting that he would continue to support the ruling coalition government.
Expressing confidence that the coalition government would complete its full term, he termed the alleged attempts by Congress MLAs to undermine Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as "unfortunate" and asked its chief Siddaramaiah to control his party MLAs.
"...being in the government side, saying that Siddaramaiah (CLP leader) is still our CM, it is sacrilege... they (Congress MLAs) should not speak like that. Their high command, especially Siddaramaiah, has to control them...I think it will be sorted out in a short time," he added.
Amid strains in Congress-JDS ties, Kumaraswamy on Monday had threatened to step down over adverse comments by a Congress MLA, prompting the coalition partner to swing into damage control mode.
On BJP's reported plans to bring in a no confidence motion against the Kumaraswamy government during the budget session starting from February 6, he said "if they bring it, we will win on the floor of the House...nothing will happen."
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
