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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Nagaland bypoll: Nearly 20 pc voter turnout recorded in Koridang seat in first two hours
Kohima (PTI): Nearly 20 per cent of 22,382 electors exercised their franchise in Nagaland's Koridang Assembly bypoll in the first two hours of polling on Thursday, officials said.
The voting that commenced at 7 am across all 30 polling stations has so far been peaceful, they said.
The polling will continue till 4 pm.
Security has been significantly tightened across the constituency following violence on April 5 and 6, in which one person died, and several vehicles were damaged.
The byelection was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November last year.
A total of 22,382 electors, including 11,071 women, are eligible to decide the fate of six candidates in the fray.
The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) has fielded BJP nominee Daochier I. Imchen, while the Congress candidate is T. Chalukumba Ao. The National People’s Party (NPP) has nominated I. Abenjang, while the Independent candidates are Imchatoba Imchen, Imtiwapang, and Toshikaba.
Of the 30 polling stations, 13 have been categorised as vulnerable and 17 as critical, prompting deployment of additional security personnel and intensified surveillance measures. Two polling stations have been designated as all-women booths.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
