Karnataka CM aks BJP members to remain mum on JDS' possible merger with his party
Kumaraswamy says, My real politics will begin in 2023
Bengaluru, Dec 21: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday asked his BJP party members not to comment on rumours of possible merger of the JD(S) with the saffron party, even as JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy dismissed such reports and expressed confidence about coming to power independently.
"My real politics will begin in 2023," Kumaraswamy said and asserted that no one can finish the JD(S).
Amid rumours of a possible merger of the JD(S) with BJP, both leaders had on Sunday too issued statements dismissing them as far from the truth.
"JD(S) is a party built by former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is its leader.
At the time when they are trying to strengthen the party and build it across the state, talking about that pary's merger with another party is like insulting them," Yediyurappa said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said, neither he nor others should speak on such issues, while maintaining that JD(S) has given cooperation on the issue of removing the legislative council chairman.
"...in the coming days too they may give us cooperation if needed, but at the time they are building their party, talks about its merger are not right.
There is still two and a half years for election.
They will build their party, we will build ours.So no one, including those from our party, should speak about such things," he added.
There have been rumours and reports in certain sections of the media for a couple of months now about the merger, with Kumaraswamy twice meeting Yediyurappa personally at his official residence and JD(S)' alleged softening of stand towards the ruling party.
Also JD(S) extending support for the passage of the land reforms bill in the council after initially opposing it and the regional party's support to BJP in its no-confidence motion against Council Chairman did add to the speculation.
Senior BJP legislator and vice president Arvind Limbavali's reply to a question about merger on Sunday was seen as adding credence to the speculation.
"I too have heard about it (merger), I will try to know about it.I have got to know through the media," he said.
Political polarisation will happen more in the days to come and there is a clear wave in favour of PM Narendra Modi and BJP in the country and in Karnataka too it will happen, he had said, pointing at a fight between two former coalition partners Congress and JD(S).
Ruling out any merger proposals before him, Kumaraswamy, hitting out at Congress and its leader Siddaramaiah, today asserted that his aim is to bring JD(S) to power independently in 2023, and blamed those who are on their way out from the party for spreading such rumours.
"I have already spoken about JD(S)' stand.There is no question of merging JD(S) with any other party until we are alive.
We are not here for power.For the last ten years we have worked in the opposition," Kumaraswamy said.
Deve Gowda built JD(S) to fight for the cause of the people and in his six decades long political life he was in power for just four or five years, the former Chief Minister said, while noting that joining hands with Congress has affected party's prospects and expressed hopes about coming to power on own.
"..no one can finish JD(S).We have lakhs of workers... aimed at coming to power independently (in 2023) and protecting the interest of our workers, we will work together.
My real politics will begin in 2023. Till today the politics that I was doing was temporary politics, some incidents have happened.I'm confident of getting full support from the people in 2023," he added.
Meanwhile, Congress legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Siddarmaaiah alleged that BJP and JD(S) always had an internal understanding and the regional party was the "B team" of the BJP.
"They already have an understanding.They (JDS) have supported the passage of anti-farmer legislation, they have supported removing chairman in the council, they will also support during the new Chairman election.
It is hence proved that JD(S) is a B team of BJP," he said.
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
