Congress-JDS decide to oust BJP from South India: Deve Gowda
Ballari, October 30: Disclosing that the Congress and JDS have joined hands together to oust the BJP from South India, former prime minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda said that the by-election to three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in the state would become a referendum to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Deve Gowda said that all the Congress-JDS candidates would send a strong message to the country by winning the by-elections. “For BJP, Karnataka was the gateway for South India. Now, we have planned to close this gate. BJP is not in a position to tolerate the unity of Congress and JDS. So, the BJP people have made my absence in the Vidhana Soudha to receive Valmiki Award a big issue. Since I have pre planned programme in London, I was unable to participate in the award presentation programme. But the BJP people have been making it an issue”, he said.
“We have decided to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP away from the power in the next Lok Sabha election. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had played a pivotal role in bringing together all parties in 1996. This time also, Naidu would join hands with for alliance against the BJP”, he opined.
“Both Congress and JDS have formed the coalition government in the state. In this by-election, both the parties have fielded unanimous candidates. We have been working to ensure the victory of coalition candidates in all constituencies. This by-election is being conducted as a prelude to the Assembly elections in five states. The victory in this by-election is not for showing our strength. But it will become a beginning for the new political development in the country”, Gowda said.
He was campaigning to win Mandya, Shivamogga, Ballari Lok Sabha seats. He had been to Ramanagar. If Siddaramaiah asked to go to Jamkhandi, he would go there and campaign. They do not have any differences. Ugrappa was a good person and he should win. “I have directed all my party workers to work for the election of Congress candidate. There should not be any lapses in our efforts. Ugrappa played a major role in installing the bust of Valmiki in front of the Vidhana Soudha. I have the confidence that the Ballary people would definitely elect Ugrappa”, Deve Gowda said.
‘Rahul Gandhi has capacity to become PM’
“Rahul Gandhi who takes charge of the 130-year-old Congress party has the ability to become the prime minister of the country. I am not ready to speak about him lightly. I don’t have any objection to make him as the PM. He has been observing the national and international politics very carefully”.
- H.D. Deve Gowda, Former PM
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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.
