'Let Yediyurappa complete term, I want to build JDS': Deve Gowda
Bengaluru, Nov 5: Not wanting mid-term polls in Karnataka, JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday said he wants the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government to complete its term as it would give him time to build his party.
Targeting Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, the former Prime Minister said the Congress may want mid-term assembly polls soon as he was eager to become Chief Minister once again.
I have also said what Kumaraswamy has said.Let Yediyurappa rule the state for three years and 8 months.I don't want to remove Yediyurappa, I want to build the party.
If elections are held tomorrow, do I have the capacity to field 224 candidates, Gowda said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said Siddaramaiah may have that strength (to face mid-term polls), he is AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) leader, I don't know any such leaders.
If elections are held tomorrow for 224 seats will I be able to finalise the candidates? I have said you (Yediyurappa) rule. If I get time I can fight, he added.
Gowdas son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy too had recently said his party would not try and dislodge the ruling BJP government like the saffron party had done to his coalition government and had opined that he did not think that mid-term polls would be held.
Kumaraswamy had cited hampering of development work, also ongoing relief and rehabilitation work in flood-hit parts of the state due to mid-term polls as the reason for his statement.
Siddaramaiah, reacting to Kumaraswamy, has said the latter's statement gave an impression that he would support the saffron party and had recalled that the JD(S) had formed the government with BJP with power sharing formula of 20 months each in 2006.
On Tuesday too Siddaramaiah said Kumaraswamy's recent statement was out of fear that more JD(S) legislators may jump ship to the saffron party.
Responding to a question, Gowda said,You (Yediyurappa) rule the state aptly. Let him (Yediyurappa) rule for three-and-half years, I will get some time to build the party...Siddaramaiah may want election tomorrow, I dont want.
He (Siddaramaiah) is now Leader of Opposition, becoming Chief Minister was the only thing remaining for him, he added.
Deve Gowda, Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy had until recently predicted the collapse of the Yediyurappa government and possibility of mid-term polls in the state.
Gowda and Kumaraswamys statements have come in as a relief for the BJP, which will need to win at least six of 15 seats that will go to the bypolls on December 5, to remain in power.
There is also speculation that JD(S) may extend support to the BJP if it fails to win maximum number of seats in the bypolls.
Amid reports that Gowda had spoken to Yediyurappa over phone recently assuring support, the former Prime Minister issued a statement rejecting it, terming it far from truth.
Gowda during the presser also reiterated that his party that had run a government and contested Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Congress, will contest alone in the bypolls.
After the Supreme Courts verdict on disqualified MLAs, if election happens we will contest...we will not join hands with any one, we will contest separately, he said.
Bypolls to 15 of 17 seats represented by disqualified MLAs, whose resignation and absence from the trust vote led to the fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, and made way for the BJP to come to power, will be held on December 5.
The then Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar had disqualified them as MLAs, ruling that those disqualified, cease to be MLAs with immediate effect till the expiry of the 15th assembly (in 2023), which they have challenged in the Supreme Court, and the matter is currently being heard by the top Court.
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Police acted proactively in arrest of rape accused 'godman' Kharat: Fadnavis
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the police acted proactively in arresting self-styled godman Ashok Kharat, accused of raping a woman in Nashik.
Several women were initially reluctant to come forward and lodge complaints, but were provided complete protection by the authorities, Fadnavis informed the state assembly.
More victims are expected to come forward as confidence in the investigation grows, he said.
Kharat, who claimed to be a retired Merchant Navy officer and was known as "captain", was arrested on March 18 for rape and other offences on the complaint of a 35-year-old woman. She alleged Kharat raped her several times over a period of three years.
"The police trapped and proactively arrested Kharat. It is a very serious matter. He misused his so-called powers and misbehaved with women. Preparations to arrest him had been underway for some time," CM Fadnavis said.
Around March 10, a complaint registered in another district was used by the police to initiate action against Kharat. A look-out circular had already been issued to prevent him from fleeing the country, Fadnavis informed the assembly.
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The chief minister said he would make a detailed statement on the case in the House on Tuesday and asserted that no one would be spared.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar termed the case a blot on Maharashtra and alleged that women were exploited by Kharat and other such people. He demanded the immediate removal of all those allegedly involved, including ministers and senior officials.
Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav claimed the case involved some ministers as well as senior IAS and IPS officers, and said the House had the right to discuss the matter. He alleged that the government had previously attempted to suppress a similar case in Nashik without conducting a proper probe.
Jadhav criticised the ruling dispensation, saying those in power invoked the name of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but failed to follow his principles.
Several political leaders had visited Kharat over the years, allegedly for seeking spiritual advice.
The government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
The woman in her complaint to Nashik police alleged that Kharat called her to his office in 2022 on the pretext of performing rituals to avert danger to her husband, administered a sedative-laced drink and raped her. She alleged repeated sexual assault over a period of three years.
The police have seized CCTV DVRs from Kharat's Mirgaon farmhouse, Tikde Colony bungalow and Canada Corner office as part of the probe into the case.
Kharat is named in several cases filed at Vavi, Shirdi and Sarkarwada police stations for alleged extortion, blackmail, rape and black magic practices, officials earlier said.
Investigators were reaching out to potential victims and more cases were expected to be registered against Kharat, they added.
