Karnataka Cong rubbishes reports of preparing for assembly polls after LS results
Bengaluru, May 7: Rubbishing reports that Congress in Karnataka was preparing for assembly polls after the Lok Sabha election results, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara Tuesday said that the coalition government would complete its five year term.
The senior Congress leader also termed as 'impertinent' at this point of time, statements by some party leaders pitching for Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister once again and said there is a system in place in the party to choose the candidate.
"Some unwanted people are spreading news about going for the polls. No one is ready to go for elections.
We have formed an alliance with an intention to run the government for five years and will complete the full term," Parameshwara told reporters in Kalburgi.
The Congress was currently working out a strategy to win the May 19 by-polls for Chincholi and Kundgol assembly constituencies, he said, adding that the party and alliance partner JD(S) would win the maximum number of seats in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.
The Deputy Chief Ministers statement was in response to a question about reports in a section of the media that Congress was preparing for the assembly election after the Lok Sabha poll results are out on May 23.
However, there is talk within political circles that any adverse results for the coalition in the Lok Sabha polls, which they fought in alliance, would have its implications on H D Kumaraswamy led government.
Clarifying on the issue of voices within the party pitching for Siddaramaiah being the Chief Minister once again, Parameshwara said the candidate is selected by the high command after gathering the opinion of legislators.
"This is our system, so what I say or someone else says will not count," he said.
Karnataka Home Minister M B Patil earlier in the day made a pitch for Siddaramaiah "as chief minister again," but clarified that the present coalition government under Kumaraswamy would complete its full term.
Patil's statement is in line with Chikkaballapura Congress MLA K Sudhakar's remarks on Monday that it would be good if Siddaramaiah became chief minister again.
Terming the statements of Sudhakar and Patil as their 'personal opinion', Parameshwara said the high command would take note of it and accordingly advice them against making such statements publicly.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
