Karnataka: After ousting of two MLA’s, BJP’s seat strength in state assembly plummets to 62
Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party which had secured 66 seats in the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections, being the official opposition party, has now lost its seat strength, plummeting to 62 MLA’s, owing to different reasons.
The party’s recent seat share decline came as a result of its disciplinary committee issuing ousting orders against two MLAs, S.T. Somashekar (Yeshwanthpur) and Shivaram Hebbar (Yellapur) on Tuesday.
The BJP's strength had declined down to 65 following the victory of the Congress candidate in the by-election to the Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district, the seat fell vacant following the election of Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai’s election to the Lok Sabha.
Following this, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal was expelled from the primary membership of the party on March 26 on charges of anti-party activities, reducing the party's seat number to 64.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Yeshwanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekar and Yellapur MLA Shivaram were expelled from the BJP for six years over anti-party activities, bringing down the strength of BJP MLAs to 62.
Currently, out of the total 224 seats in the state, the ruling Congress has 138, BJP has 62, JDS has 18, Independents have 2, expelled 3 and 1 seat is vacant.
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
