'Musical chair' among Cong leaders in Karnataka to replace Siddaramaiah: BJP leader Ashoka
Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Saturday said discussions are on within the ruling Congress about replacement for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and a "musical chair" was going on among senior leaders and ministers within the party, including Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, for the top job.
The BJP leader's comments have come amidst reports that the Congress is said to have discussed the possibility of a leadership change in Karnataka, depending on future developments surrounding the threat of an investigation looming over Siddaramaiah, following the Governor granting sanction for prosecution against him.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who is also state Congress chief, and several senior ministers met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday, and held discussions.
"We have never said we will dislodge this government. We have not contacted or met any MLAs. Which Congress MLA have we met? Things are happening in their own party (Congress). I'm seeing it daily in newspapers and television media, there is a musical chair going on," Ashoka said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "D K Shivakumar, G Parameshwara, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Zameer Ahmed Khan, K J Gerorge (all ministers), also Kharge's (Mallikarjun Kharge) name has come into picture out of nowhere -- all of them are going around like a musical chair."
"There is confusion within their party (Congress). The most important subject of discussion among Congress MLAs is who should replace Siddaramaiah. There is no such discussion (to dislodge govt) in BJP. Let whoever becomes (CM), what do we have to do with it? We have never said that we will dislodge the government, there is no need for it. Let them respectfully run the government and win the hearts of people," he added.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on August 16 granted sanction for prosecution of Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam', giving a major jolt to the nearly 15 month old Congress government.
The Governor accorded sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences as mentioned in the petitions of activists Pradeep Kumar S P, T J Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna.
Ashoka termed it as "negligence" on the part of the government, as he hit back at the ruling Congress for targeting the Governor for sending back a number of bills. Stating that it is a routine practice, he asked the ministers and the government to give clarifications on the bills.
Noting that the Governor would have received complaints regarding bills from various quarters including the public, like in the case of the Urban Development Bill, also Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, Ashoka said the Governor has the power under the Constitution to seek clarification, and almost all the Governors have sent back bills seeking clarifications in the past.
"Even when the BJP government was in power, the then Governor H R Bharadwaj had sent back a number of bills. Did we blame Congress for it? It is a common practice....go and ask as to why the bill was sent back and give clarification. Respective department Ministers, Secretaries and Chief Secretary should give clarification regarding each bill and explain its benefits to the people, it is the duty of the government. Your mistake and you are blaming the Governor. Is it right?," he asked.
Deputy CM Shivakumar on Friday had claimed that the Governor had sent back 15 bills, yielding to pressure from the BJP. He also had hit out at Governor Gehlot accusing him of taking decisions based on what suited the BJP.
Rebuking Congress leaders and ministers for speaking against the Governor in a derogatory manner on the streets for granting prosecution sanction against the chief minister, Ashoka said, "without even considering that the Governor is from the Dalit community, his pictures were burnt...ministers in the Cabinet, also the chief minister have spoken disrespectfully about him."
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Women''s Bill: Stalin says proposal amid polls raises suspicion; backs 33 per cent reservation
Chennai (PTI): Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday alleged that the proposed amendment to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in the midst of polls in states including Tamil Nadu appeared to be yet another political manoeuvre aimed at shaping electoral narratives.
Stalin alleged the timing for the proposed amendment led to serious suspicion.
"Why push such a far-reaching decision in the middle of state elections. This appears to be yet another political manoeuvre aimed at shaping electoral narratives, much like earlier attempts to influence women voters ahead of the 2024 Parliament elections," he alleged in a statement titled "This is not reform, this is reengineering power."
Further, he said: "Let me be unequivocal: we strongly support 33 per cent reservation for women. Our support is absolute. But it must be implemented without increasing seats and without punishing states that acted responsibly. If the intent is genuine, nothing prevents immediate implementation within the existing framework."
Demanding fair delimitation, he alleged there was complete opacity on the basis for delimitation and asked would the exercise rely on 1971 figures from a pre–population control era or the 2021 Census. "Conflicting signals and vague assurances only deepen suspicion." This move would also impose a massive financial burden on states, forcing them to expand or rebuild Legislative Assemblies, all without proper consultation.
"This is a direct assault on cooperative federalism. This is not reform, it is a unilateral, politically driven exercise designed to concentrate power, weaken Parliament, marginalise the South, and undermine social justice," he alleged. "The nation deserves answers: why this undue haste, why shift the goalposts, and who truly stands to benefit."
The NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is systematically eroding the very foundations of Parliament, he alleged.
The Dravidian party chief claimed: "What should be a vibrant forum for debate and accountability is being reduced to a hollow ritual, a stage where members may not even get fair time to speak or represent their people. This proposal to increase seats is a direct contradiction of their own slogan of minimum government, maximum governance. It will only inflate expenditure, burden taxpayers, and dilute the quality of parliamentary functioning."
This also went against the spirit of Article 1 of the Constitution, which defines India as a Union of States. Ignoring the voices of states and bypassing meaningful consultation is not democratic - it is unitary overreach that undermines the country's federal and plural character.
More alarmingly, this exercise will blatantly skew representation and tilt the balance of power in favour of northern states dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party, while silencing the voice of south India, he claimed.
"As forcefully pointed out by veteran leader Siddaramaiah (Karnataka CM), this is not a neutral exercise; it is a calculated political restructuring. Northern states stand to gain nearly double the (Parliamentary) seats, while the South’s share stagnates at around 24 per cent. This is nothing short of penalising states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Keralam and Telangana for their success in population control."
Chief Ministers across the South, including Siddaramaiah, Pinarayi Vijayan and A Revanth Reddy have rightly warned that this move will distort federalism and concentrate power in a few regions, the DMK president alleged.
PM Modi said on Thursday that the proposed amendments to the Women Reservation Act are not just a legislative exercise but a reflection of the aspirations of crores of women across India and urged all MPs to come together to support this significant move.
He had last week announced an extension of the Budget session of Parliament by three days, from April 16 to 18, so that the Women's Reservation Act can be amended for its implementation from 2029.
