Congress to hold statewide protest to save Panchayat Raj system: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: KPCC President D K Shivakumar has said that the Congress members oppose appointment by nominations instead of being elected to Panchayaths.
“We have seen in the media that the Cabinet has decided to appoint without election to the Panchayaths. The Congress demands that elections be held to the Panchayaths and will legally fight against direct appointment,” said Shivakumar.
He was addressing reporters after attending a meeting chaired by the Speaker in the Vidhan Soudha on Thursday on the Anti-defection Act.
“The government should remember that a decision to appoint workers of our choice in a democracy is favorable neither for us nor the democratic setup. If the government shows preference to appointment over elections, we will organize a statewide protest to save the Panchayath Raj system,” he warned.
“The Central and state governments are both treating workers in a very demeaning manner. The workers are not being provided food packets and grocery kits. There are no jobs or food. Each worker needs at least Rs. 1,000 to reach his or her native place, but the government refuses to provide the workers financial help,” Shivakumar said while speaking about the plights of migrant labors.
“The workers, who are a support system for the country, should not be treated like bonded laborers. Instead, they should be treated with due respect and sent home. The government should also have given them moral support in the present difficult times. Up to seven lakh food packets were readied for the workers by the Corporation and the Labor Department, but the packets reached only the BJP workers. The beneficiaries got hardly 10% of the packets,” alleged Shivakumar.
He said that the Anti-defection Act is being discussed at national-level. “This is a major problem for all parties and needs to be resolved now to prevent problems in future for our democratic system. Our state itself is an example to explain the need for resolution. We have all tried a lot to bring in change, but have been a cause too, for the issue being raised at present,” he added.
Speaking further, the KPCC president said that there are regular cases of changing parties for the sake of power, resigning as legislators to change parties and then withdrawing the resignation, resigning in order to get another party to power. “If there is no control over such acts, the situation is going to worsen. The contestants who win should get the power, but change of parties to get others to power is against the system, and should not be permitted,” insisted Shivakumar.
The president said that the party has expressed its opposition to permitting elected representatives who resign and change parties for personal matters contest elections from other parties. “We will also discuss the matter at party-level. The opinions of senior and junior leaders of the party and experts too will be collected by June 10 and give a consolidated response,” said Shivakumar.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
