Cong-JDS will get maximum number of LS seats, Deputy CM G Parameshwar
Bengaluru, May 4: The ruling Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka will gain maximum number of seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls as per an analysis done by the party, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwar said Saturday.
"Based on the information we have gathered from constituencies, we did an analysis, which said both parties (Congress and JDS) together would win a majority of seats, while the BJP would lose face.
I'm giving this statement based on the reports that we have got," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he said people of the country have seen what kind of administration the Narendra Modi-led BJP government had given in the last five years, during which the economic situation 'deteriorated.'
"I'm confident that that UPA government will come back to power at the centre and Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister.
We came to this conclusion after analysing the Lok Sabha elections which took place so far and observing the responses that we have received from all over the country," he added.
There have been reports in sections of the media in the last couple of days that cited internal reports of Congress and of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy which said that the grand old party may end up in single digits.
Leaders of both parties are also reportedly collecting 'evidence' against each other about not supporting the coalition candidate, especially in old Mysuru region, where Congress and JD(S) are arch rivals and had jointly fought the polls despite resentment among grassroot level workers against the seat sharing.
According to the seat sharing arrangement Congress contested in 21 seats and JD(S) in seven.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had won 17 of the total of 28 seats, Congress nine and JD(S), two.
However the November 2018 bypoll in Bellary saw BJP losing the seat to the Congress.
There are talks within political circles that any adverse results for the coalition in the Lok Sabha polls, which they fought in alliance will have its implications on the Kumaraswamy led government.
Rebel Congress MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been hobnobbing with the BJP for some time now, has been threatening to resign from the party along with other MLAs en masse, which has caused fear among the ruling coalition leaders as it would trigger the numbers game in the assembly.
Adding to this is a meeting of "like minded" MLAs that is likely to take place under the leadership of Congress legislator S T Somashekar soon after the May 19 by-polls for Kundgol and Chincholi assembly segments to discuss issues faced by MLAs and long-pending development work, which is worrying the coalition leaders.
The meeting scheduled earlier this week was postponed following instructions from the party leadership, citing by-elections as the reason.
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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.
