MLC polls: JD(S) local leaders to decide whom to support in the seats party not contesting: HDK
Bengaluru, Dec 7: Amid buzz about a possible pact with the ruling BJP for the coming legislative council polls, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that local leaders have been authorised to take a decision on whom to support in the seats where the party is not contesting, keeping in mind the propects for the 2023 assembly election.
Ruling out any alliance, the former Chief Minister expressed confidence about JD(S) winning all the six council seats it is contesting.
The biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from 20 Local Authorities' Constituencies for 25 seats, due to the retirement of sitting members, will be held on December 10.
"I have held two-three rounds of discussions with our local leaders and have taken their opinion regarding the seats where we have not fielded our candidates....I have given instructions to our local district leaders to take a decision regarding supporting other party candidates in these seats, keeping in mind the party's prospects in the 2023 assembly elections," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he clarified that there is no question of any alliance now or in the future and JD(S) will field its candidates in all 224 seats during the 2023 assembly polls, with a target of winning 123 seats.
"There is no question or situation for any alliance or any internal or external understanding....our goal is the 2023 polls. Whatever decision that has to be taken during the council polls, with an intention to strengthen the party for the assembly polls, we have authorised our local leaders and they will decide," he added.
There was heightened buzz over a possible pact between the BJP and JD(S) for the legislative council polls, following full display of bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the regional party's patriarch H D Deve Gowda, during their meeting in Delhi last week.
State BJP strong man and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had openly sought JD(S)' support for BJP candidates in the seats where the regional party is not contesting.
The JD(S) has fielded only six candidates, while the BJP and Congress are contesting in 20 seats each.
Stating that neither Congress or BJP have sought JD(S)' support, Kumaraswamy said there has been no official request from the saffron party, other than its leader Yediyurappa, a couple of times publicly and once personally over phone, seeking support.
Further pointing out Yediyurappa too has clarified that there was no alliance and that he has only sought JD(S)' support where it is not contesting, he said, "it shows his political statesmanship and his honest efforts in getting our support for BJP candidates. But we too as a political party have to take certain decisions for our future. So after consulting local leaders, we have taken this decision."
Due to financial constraints, JD(S) is contesting in only six seats, despite having strength and votes that is decisive for winning this election in several districts, Kumaraswamy said, adding that in the seats where the party is contesting, there is a triangular contest between Congress, BJP and JD(S). "Both the national parties are not supporting the JD(S) in the six seats."
Asked whether authorizing local leaders to take a decision may lead to confusion, he said it is a part of the party's strategy to win maximum seats in 2023 assembly polls.
"There is no confusion. During assembly polls, the situation will differ in different seats. In some seats we will have to fight Congress and the BJP, in a few. Keeping this in mind, we have to take certain decisions now. Looking at the local situation, we have asked our local leaders to decide," he added.
Asked what if local leaders at some places decide to support Congress candidates despite that party not seeking JD(S) support, Kumaraswamy said "state and local level politics are different....aimed at creating a favorable situation for our party at the local level during the assembly polls, our leaders will take a decision locally."
Accusing Congress of indulging in a constant false propaganda that JD(S) will have an alliance or a direct understanding with the BJP, he said they have been chanting their "political mantra", calling JD(S) the 'B-team' of BJP . Of late, they have added a new slogan, calling JD(S) as JD(F) in which 'F' stands for family politics, he said.
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Ensure paid holiday for postal staff on polling day in Kerala: John Brittas writes to Scindia
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Sunday wrote to Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, seeking his urgent intervention to ensure that postal employees in Kerala are granted a statutory paid holiday on April 9 for the Assembly elections in the southern state.
In his letter, Brittas expressed serious concern over the Kerala Postal Circle’s instructions to treat all postal employees as “absentee voters in essential services (AVES)”, directing them to opt for a postal ballot within an “extremely limited” timeframe.
The Department of Posts operates under the Ministry of Communications. Along with the Department of Telecommunications, it is one of the two main sections within the ministry headed by Scindia.
In his letter, Brittas pointed out that the circular dated March 19 required the collection of Form 12D by March 20 (Eid al-Fitr), and submission of the compiled details at the respective collectorates by March 22 (Sunday), both holidays in Kerala, making meaningful compliance difficult and raising apprehensions about the “arbitrary” nature of the directions.
The CPI(M) leader also pointed out that the Election Commission, in a communication dated March 16, reiterated the requirement under Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, that every person employed in any establishment and entitled to vote shall be granted a paid holiday on the polling day, without any deduction or abatement of wages.
He said even where certain services are treated as essential, the long-standing administrative practice has been to maintain only minimal required operations on polling day, without denying employees the opportunity to vote in person.
Brittas argued that in some other states going to polls this month, including Assam, most postal employees have been granted a holiday on polling day, in accordance with the statutory provisions.
During the 2021 Kerala polls, postal establishments had observed a holiday on polling day, subject only to limited essential arrangements, he claimed.
The present deviation, Brittas said, raises concerns about inconsistency in the application of law and the avoidable curtailment of the democratic rights of employees.
Stating that the right to vote lies at the core of India's democratic framework, Brittas urged Scindia to examine the matter urgently.
“Given the proximity of the polling date, I earnestly seek your kind indulgence to have the matter examined on priority, and to issue urgent directions to the postal authorities in Kerala to ensure that the statutory entitlement of postal employees in Kerala to a paid holiday on the day of polling is duly ensured,” Brittas said in the letter.
The 140 seats in the Kerala Assembly will go to polls on April 9, and the results will be out on May 4.
