Karnataka HC rejects plea challenging election of CM Siddaramaiah from Varuna constituency
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the election of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from Varuna constituency in Mysuru district in 2023 on grounds that the Congress, with five guarantees in its manifesto, was trying to bribe the people of the state.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav passed the judgment on Tuesday afternoon.
The petitioner, K Shankara from Varuna constituency, had alleged that the Congress manifesto was announced with Siddaramaiah’s consent, adding that the guarantees aimed at gratifying the electorate of Varuna constituency in order to induce them to vote for the Congress.
Shankara further alleged that Siddaramaiah’s act amounted to corruption during the polls and urged the High Court to not only declare Siddaramaiah’s election void but also debar him from contesting elections for six years.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Pramila Nesargi, argued that the guarantee schemes discriminated against men, with free trips and financial assistance to women only, and violated the Article 14 of the Constitution, which lays stress on the right to equality. She too called the promises made in the Congress manifesto as ‘bribing the voters’ and asked the HC to cancel his election.
The Court had sought the CM’s response to the plea in July 2023.
Siddaramaiah’s advocate Ravivarma Kumar, who refuted the charges in court, called the petition a ‘copy-paste’ document and added that it was liable for dismissal as there was no evidence of the Congress attempting to lure voters with bribery through its manifesto.
Pointing out that the election of Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad had been challenged on similar grounds but dismissed by the HC in 2024, the CM’s advocate opined that the election of Siddaramaiah too was being challenged with identical pleadings.
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
