It’s inevitable to support ‘separate state fight’: BJP MLA Nehru Olekar
Bengaluru, July 29: Despite the BJP’s Core Committee’s decision against supporting the ‘Separate State fight’, Haveri BJP MLA Nehru Olekar said that it was inevitable to support the ‘Separate State Fight’ and his statement attracted anger from his own party men.
Speaking to reporters at Haveri on Sunday, he said that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has been discriminating the North Karnataka. Kumaraswamy’s attitude was the main reason for the separate state fight. North Karnataka was meted out with injustice in the Budget, he said.
The BJP government had sanctioned a medical college to Haveri district. But the previous Siddaramaiah government and HD Kumaraswamy –led JDS-Congress coalition government have not responded to it. The North Karnataka was completely neglected due to which the people of this region were enraged and raising a voice for separate state, he said.
If the discriminatory attitude of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy continued further, it would be inevitable for him to support the North Karnataka bandh call given on August 2, he said.
No personal politics
Expressing his displeasure over Olekar’s statement, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti said that if North Karnataka was really neglected, steps should be taken to rectify it. It was not fair to raise voice for a separate state for his personal political gains. Swamijis should keep themselves away from politics. Some swamijis have been poking their nose in separate state issue. Why should swamijis need politics? He was against the separate state issue, he said.
“Those who do not have the knowledge about whole Karnataka are demanding for separate state and they are selfish. They do not know why unification of Karnataka and states based on languages were formed due to which they are giving foolish statements. I am also North Karnataka MLA. But I accept the North Karnataka development issue”.
- Siddaramaiah, former chief minister and Badami MLA
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
