HD Kumaraswamy will contest as NDA candidate from Mandya LS seat: JD(S) leader C S Puttaraju
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.
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Woman's death: Under fire Pune-based Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital announces 'no deposit' policy
Pune (PTI) The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Maharashtra's Pune city, under fire for allegedly turning away a pregnant woman over non-payment of Rs 10 lakh as advance for treatment, on Saturday announced it would no longer be taking deposits from patients at the emergency department.
The woman, wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, had to be shifted to another hospital where she died after delivering twins. The incident hit national headlines and evoked strong condemnation from leaders cutting across party lines as well as protests from citizens' groups.
In an open letter, the hospital's medical director Dr Dhananjay Kelkar said, "In the early years of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, we never took a deposit. But as the number of critical cases increased and the cost of complex treatments rose, the hospital began taking deposits in certain high-cost cases."
"However, in light of yesterday's events, we have re-evaluated this practice and passed a resolution that the hospital will no longer take any deposit from patients entering through the Emergency Department, including emergency deliveries and paediatric emergencies. This will be implemented with immediate effect," Dr Kelkar said in the letter.
ALSO READ: Woman died post delivery after Pune hospital refused admission over Rs 10 lakh deposit
He defended the hospital by reiterating that he had personally told the woman's kin to pay as per their ability and also offered all help, but they left with the patient without informing anyone.
While it is factually incorrect and unfair to hold the hospital directly responsible for the incident and the unfortunate death, the hospital is still investigating whether it showed adequate sensitivity towards the patient, Dr Kelkar added.
"I had myself told the woman's relatives to pay whatever amount they could as a deposit and assured them of complete support. However, they left the hospital with the patient without informing anyone," he stated.
Alluding to the protests at the hospital by various political parties on Friday, Dr Kelkar termed it as a "black day".
Without any regard for the hospital's legacy and services, a group participating in the morcha (protest) threw coins at the public relations officer, while some women activists allegedly barged into a hospital run by the parents of Dr. Sushrut Ghaisas and vandalized it.
Dr Ghaisas has been accused by the kin of the deceased woman seeking the deposit ahead of admission.
"Our heads hung in shame when some protestors blackened the names of Lata Mangeshkar and Deenanath Mangeshkar, all of this taking place in front of media cameras," Dr Kelkar said.
An internal inquiry report of the Mangeshkar Hospital had claimed on Friday that the allegations of denial of admission for non-payment of Rs 10 lakh were "misleading" and made "out of frustration" by her family.
The woman's pregnancy was in the high-risk category, and her two underweight foetuses of seven months, coupled with a history of an old ailment, required Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) treatment for at least two months, it said.
The treatment required Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and the family was advised that in case of lack of funds, they could admit the patient to the government-run Sassoon General Hospital for a complicated surgery, it added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the formation of an inquiry panel under the Pune-based Joint Commissioner of Charity to look into the incident.
