First death anniversary of Puneeth Rajkumar: Homage paid to Power Star
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and several other prominent offered their respects to late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar on his first death anniversary on Saturday.
“From entering the film industry as a child artiste to rising as Power Star, Appu has made the hearts of Kannadigas his home. I pay my respects to Dr Puneeth Rajkumar on his death anniversary,” the chief minister has posted on social media, sources said.
KPCC president D K Shivakumar has said on Twitter, “Appu lives on in the hearts of well-wishers. He has blended with nature with our dream movie Gandhada Gudi. We are truly blessed to get you.”
The Congress leader has also shared a video on Puneeth Rajkumar with his post.
“Puneeth Rajkumar was a model not only as actor but also for his social concern and service. It is a year since Puneeth left us, but we will never forget his ideal lifestyle and popularity. My respects to Appu who was always seen with a smile on his face,” Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah has posted.
Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa has said on social media, “My respects to dear Appu, Puneeth Rajkumar, who still lives in the hearts of the people, on his first death anniversary. His creativity and concern will live forever.”
"ಬಾಲನಟನಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರರಂಗ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿ, ಪವರ್ ಸ್ಟಾರ್ ಆಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಜನಮಾನಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಅಪ್ಪು,
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 29, 2022
ಡಾ. ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ್ ರವರ ಪುಣ್ಯಸ್ಮರಣೆಯಂದು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಪೂರ್ವಕ ನಮನಗಳು. pic.twitter.com/7lTdgQ22vt
ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದನ್ನು ಬಯಸುವವರ ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪ್ಪು ಇನ್ನೂ ಬದುಕಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ಕನಸಿನ #ಗಂಧದಗುಡಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಅವರು ಪರಿಸರದಲ್ಲಿ ಲೀನವಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಿಮ್ಮನು ಪಡೆದ ನಾವು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಪುನೀತ. #PuneethRajkumarLivesOn pic.twitter.com/5cjq4sWS42
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 29, 2022
ಜನಮಾನಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿರಸ್ಥಾಯಿ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಕಲಾವಿದ, ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಅಪ್ಪು ಶ್ರೀ ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರ ಪ್ರಥಮ ಪುಣ್ಯತಿಥಿಯಂದು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಭಾವಪೂರ್ಣ ನಮನಗಳು. ಅವರ ಕಲಾವಂತಿಕೆ, ಹೃದಯವಂತಿಕೆಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ಅಜರಾಮರ. pic.twitter.com/s3T8qeBdAc
— B.S.Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) October 29, 2022
ಅಪ್ಪು ಸರ್ / Appu Sir pic.twitter.com/Ea4XE78g4q
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) October 29, 2022
ಪುನೀತ್ ರಾಜ್ಕುಮಾರ್ ನಟನಾಗಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕಳಕಳಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ ಸೇವೆಗಳಿಂದ ಇತರರಿಗೆ ಮಾದರಿಯಾದವರು.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 29, 2022
ಪುನೀತ್ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನಗಲಿ ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಕಳೆದಿದೆ, ಅವರ ಸರ್ವಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ ಮತ್ತು ಆದರ್ಶದ ಬದುಕು ಸದಾ ನಮ್ಮ ಕಣ್ಣ ಮುಂದಿರುತ್ತದೆ.
ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಮಾಸದ ನಗುಮೊಗದ ಅಪ್ಪುವಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ ನಮನಗಳು.#PuneethRajkumarLivesOn pic.twitter.com/corI7iEbfb
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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.
