No issues over alliance and seat-sharing with BJP for LS poll: HD Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: Karnataka JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said there are no issues with respect to his party's alliance with the BJP, and also regarding seat sharing between the two parties in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The former Chief Minister also did not rule out the possibility of his brother-in-law and noted cardiac surgeon Dr C N Manjunath contesting the Lok Sabha election.
Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, and they are said to have held discussions regarding seat sharing.
"There are no issues with respect to alliance in any way, there are also no issues regarding seat sharing. Our intention is -- the alliance should win all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said both parties will take the decisions together.
JD(S) formally joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year and both parties decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls together.
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To a question regarding Manjunath contesting the polls, the JDS leader said, "everyone has positive opinion of him for his service to the state and to the medical field, based on that some people have expressed their feelings about bringing him to politics, but he has said that he has not decided yet. Let's see when the time comes, what to decide."
There is intense speculation about Manjunath being fielded as the alliance's candidate from Bengaluru Rural constituency, currently represented by Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh.
According to some reports, he may contest on a BJP ticket, based on arrangement between both parties.
Asked about the possibility of a JD(S) leader D Kupendra Reddy winning the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Kumaraswamy said, "All of us take up any journey with a desire to win the goal. Whether the desire will be fulfilled or not will be known after polls on February 27."
BJP-JD(S) combine have fielded Reddy as its second candidate, even though the alliance has the strength to win only one out of four seats.
Kumaraswamy said he has not been able to participate in the ongoing Assembly session as doctors have advised him "voice rest" and not to speak much.
Hitting out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his recent speech in the Legislative Council, targeting the central government and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while demanding central funds for the state, he accused him of bringing down the state's pride.
Seeking to know whether the CM was turning Karnataka into a "beggar state", he said, "Karnataka is a wealthy state. When it comes to its own tax revenues, Karnataka stands number one in the country. There is no shortage of funds. To quench your thirst to loot you are emptying the state's coffers. The coffers are getting empty not because of guarantee schemes."
He also alleged that the state government is constantly in a confrontation mode with the Centre.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
