Mandya, Mar 21: Senior JD(S) leader C S Puttaraju on Thursday said the party's state President H D Kumaraswamy will be contesting as the NDA candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha segment.

Though there is no official announcement yet, speculations are rife among both alliance partners -- BJP and JD(S) -- about the seat going to the regional party and former CM Kumaraswamy being the candidate.

Earlier there were reports that JD(S) will get the seat and Puttaraju, a former MP from the constituency or Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who had unsuccessfully contested from the segment, may be fielded from the segment.

"One Hundred per cent Kumaranna (Kumaraswamy) will be the candidate, I will lead the election campaign in the constituency and ensure his victory with a huge margin. We will call him just to file a nomination. In all the eight assembly segments under the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, Kumaranna as a NDA candidate will win with a huge margin," Puttaraju said.

ALSO READ: Ex-CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy undergoes heart surgery at Chennai hospital

Addressing reporters here, he said, "With the blessings of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and cooperation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both BJP and JD(S) workers are eager to ensure Kumaraswamy's win."

An official announcement will be made in a couple of days, once Kumaraswamy returns from Chennai, where he underwent a heart surgery, the former minister said.

"Candidates from both parties will be unanimously announced for the remaining constituencies including Mandya, Hassan and Kolar. We will work together for the victory in all 28 segments in the state," he said.

Multilingual actress turned-politician Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate backed by the BJP, had won the seat in 2019 by defeating JD(S)' Nikhil Kumaraswamy. She is seeking BJP's ticket for re-election from Mandya constituency.

Asked about Sumalatha saying that the final decision on whether the Mandya seat will go to BJP or JD(S) is awaited, Puttaraju said the BJP high command will make an announcement, sorting out all minor issues. "Everything will be fine."

The regional party is expected to contest in three seats -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar.

But, according to recent reports, BJP is not willing to cede Kolar seat to JD(S), which has irked the regional outfit. BJP's S Muniswamy is the incumbent Kolar MP.

However, Kumaraswamy on Tuesday had expressed hope that the issue would be resolved. He indicated that JD(S) will field candidates in that constituency as well, along with Mandya and Hassan.

There is an "atmosphere" for the party to win there, he added.

Venkatarame Gowda, popularly known as 'Star Chandru' is the Congress candidate from Mandya.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Karnataka in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Karnataka.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought assistance from the Indian government to serve a complaint to Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani in an alleged $265 million bribery and fraud case, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The SEC informed a district court in New York that it was attempting to serve the complaint and had requested help from India’s law ministry.

In November, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Gautam Adani in connection with the case. The US Department of Justice accused executives of the conglomerate of bribing Indian officials for solar energy contracts and misrepresenting anti-bribery practices to US investors. It alleged that details of the bribes were concealed to secure financing.

The Adani Group has denied the allegations and announced plans for legal action. In December, Gautam Adani blamed the media for what he called "incorrect and reckless reporting" on the issue.

While the indictment document outlines conspiracy to obstruct justice and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Adani and his executives were not formally charged under these counts. However, it names Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Cyril Cabanes of Azure Power Global in connection with the alleged bribery scheme.

On November 27, the Adani Group clarified in a stock exchange filing that Gautam Adani and Sagar Adani had been charged with securities fraud, not bribery. The charges led to a significant decline in the group’s market value, with shares losing $54 billion at the time.

On November 29, the Union government stated that it considered the matter a legal issue involving private companies, individuals, and the US Justice Department.

Meanwhile, on February 10, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing prosecutions of Americans accused of bribing foreign officials for business deals. The order temporarily halts enforcement of the FCPA and directs US Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the law’s enforcement guidelines.

The move is seen as a potential relief for the Adani Group, as it could delay or weaken ongoing investigations against its executives.