Kumaraswamy targets Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, again alleges "cash for postings" scam
Bengaluru (PTI): The JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday alleged that an official's name mentioned in a phone conversation between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra has figured in the transfer list of police inspectors released on the previous night.
On Thursday, Kumaraswamy, sought to link the phone conversation to alleged "cash for postings" scam, a charge categorically rejected by the Chief Minister.
Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, also shared the transfer list issued by the police department on November 17.
The order list comprising 13 names shows transfer of an official by name Vivekananda from state intelligence to V V Puram police station in Mysuru city.
Reacting to it, the CM said although the record has proved that his conversation with Yathindra Siddaramaiah related to the development of government schools in Varuna Constituency, Kumaraswamy has tried to peddle another lie today to mislead people.
"Vivekananda, who is mentioned in our conversation, is the BEO (Block Education Officer) of Mysuru Taluk but Kumaraswamy came up with the name of an officer by name Vivekananda in some transfer list," Siddaramaiah said.
"It seems that the political reality of not regaining power in his lifetime has taken away the sleep of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and disturbed his mental well-being. Shouldn't some well-wisher arrange proper treatment for him?" the Chief Minister asked on 'X'.
Taking to 'X', Kumaraswamy sought to know how did Vivekananda, who figured in the phone conversation, appear in the transfer list within 48 hours of the charges he levelled.
Slamming the CM, Kumaraswamy said, "There are verses of Bhagavad Gita...once you (Siddaramaiah) open your mouth and quotes of morality on the tongue! All the time you speak of ethical values in your speech! But at the end it all the rush for cash. Now the CM Saheb's innermost self has been revealed! You should be ashamed."
Noting that the Congress government is a 'house of wonders', the JD(S) leader sarcastically remarked that the CSR (corporate social responsibility) story narrated by Chief Minister was weaved 'on the advice of the 'duplicate CM', in an apparent reference to the Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The Chief Minister said on Thursday Yathindra was discussing the list of beneficiary schools for the development but Kumaraswamy twisted this phone conversation which happened in front of the public to falsely attribute it to corruption in transfers.
Continuing his attack on Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said, "If you tell the truth, you will be mobbed and bullied. Your statement that 'Kumaraswamy's is a hit and run case', is a lie. There is video evidence. People of the state have seen. There is no escape."
On Thursday, Kumaraswamy shared a video where Yathindra, a former Congress MLA, is heard saying, "Hello Appa (Father), Vivekananda! To where? No I didn't give that. Give it (phone) to Mahadeva. I had given only five."
Then he speaks to Mahadeva, "Mahadeva, why are you giving something...? Who has given that? Nothing but whatever 4-5 I have given, that alone should be done."
According to Kumaraswamy, Yathindra spoke to R Mahadeva, a sub-registrar at Ganganagar in Bengaluru, who has been appointed as the CM's Officer on Special Duty R Mahadeva.
Siddaramaiah, his deputy Shivakumar and others from the ruling party said the phone conversation was regarding development of four to five schools using the CSR fund.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
