JD(S) will not ally with NDA or INDIA, says Deve Gowda
Bengaluru: JD(S) Supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has clarified that the party will not form an alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, following debates on the possible alliance moves of the JD(S) for the elections next year.
Addressing reporters after a meeting with party legislators late Thursday night, Deve Gowda said, “We are not joining hands with either the NDA or the INDIA, but will contest the elections without any sort of alliance.”
In reference to JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy’s tweet on the ‘unlawful deployment’ of IAS officers by the state government to serve political leaders during the recent opposition parties’ meeting in Bengaluru, Gowda said, “The BJP had also raised the issue in the Karnataka Assembly, as a result of which, the Congress surmised that the BJP and the JD(S) have formed an alliance in the state.”
He added, “The BJP using arguments put forth in Kumaraswamy's tweet while arguing against the government, but this is no reason to believe that the BJP and the JD(S) have joined hands in the state; please do not do so. We are fighting this battle of our own accord sans any alliance.”
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25 killed in lightning strikes, hailstorms in several districts of Bihar
Patna, Apr 10 (PTI): At least 25 people were killed in lightning strikes and hailstorms in several districts of Bihar on Thursday, officials said.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Nalanda reported 18 deaths, followed by two in Siwan, one each in Katihar, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Bhagalpur and Jehanabad.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed in a post on X that over 50 people died on Thursday.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of more than 50 people in various incidents of storm, rain, lightning, tree and wall collapse in Bihar. I express my deepest condolences. May God provide strength to the families affected by the disaster in this hour of grief,” he wrote in Hindi.
He also said that the state government should compensate farmers for their crop loss due to the sudden rain and give them proper compensation.
Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased.
On Wednesday, 13 people had died in lightning strikes in four districts of Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ (be prepared) for a number of districts, including Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada and Patna.
It has also forecast heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday in these districts.
"Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) likely to occur at few places over Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Kishanganj, Araria, Supaul, Gaya, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Nalanda, Nawada, Patna," the IMD said in a bulletin.
Water-logging was also reported on Thursday from several parts of Patna following heavy rain.
The state capital recorded an average of 42.6 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm.
Officials of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and district administration, however, claimed that rainwater was drained out in the shortest possible time despite the downpour.
