No need to conduct by-poll to three LS constituencies: Dinesh Gundu Rao
‘Our aim is to defeat BJP’
Bengaluru, October 06: KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that though there was no need to conduct by-election to three Lok Sabha constituencies like Shivamogga, Ballary and Mandya as they have very short term, the Election Commission has declared elections to those constituencies.
Speaking to reporters at KPCC office here on Saturday, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Election Commission has announced by-election to Ramanagar and Jamakhandi assembly constituencies which still have four and half years term. The Congress has not decided on making alliance with the JDS for the by-poll. A decision would be taken after discussing with the party leaders. But the aim of the Congress was to defeat the BJP in the by-election, he said.
“By-poll is announced today. We have not yet discussed about the candidates. No decision is taken to give ticket to Siddu Nyama Gauda’s son in Jamkhandi constituency. But our candidate will definitely win in that constituency. We have won in Jayanagar and RR Nagar by-elections. There is lot of difference for general election and by-election”, he said.
“No discussion is held on fielding Ramya from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. No decision is taken. No discussion is held on Congress-JDS alliance for the by-election”.
- Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC President
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No proposal to shift control of PU officials to Zilla Panchayats, says Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Tuesday asserted that there is no proposal to transfer administrative control of Pre-University education officials to Zilla Panchayats.
The minister's clarification comes in the wake of lecturers threatening to boycott evaluation work over this reported move to shift control.
Reacting to this issue during zero hour of the state's legislative council, the minister said that he had already discussed the subject with legislators and stakeholders and clarified the government's stand. He also warned against pressure tactics such as boycotting the evaluation, stressing that it would harm students' interests.
"I clearly stated that there is no such proposal and we will not do it under any circumstances," Bangarappa said, reiterating that no government order had been issued in this regard.
The government has not taken any decision to shift administrative control of Deputy Directors of PU education to Zilla Panchayats, he added.
On pending dues, the minister said financial clearances have been obtained, and payments would be credited to lecturers' accounts "by around the 20th." The minister further said that resorting to a boycott call after discussions "amounts to acting against the interests of children," and urged teachers to resolve issues through dialogue.
"The welfare of students is paramount... laws and decisions must ultimately benefit children," he said, appealing to lecturers to reconsider their stand.
Earlier, Congress MLC Puttanna raised the issue, citing media reports that lecturers were opposing the move to bring PU colleges under Zilla Panchayats and that they had threatened to boycott evaluation work. He cautioned that such a move would lead to "interference from multiple levels" and "a decline in quality of education," besides creating administrative confusion.
Puttanna also urged the government to continue to maintain PU education's control under the education department and to immediately revise the evaluation honorarium, which he said had not been updated for three years. He demanded clearance of pending dues and timely payments henceforth.
JD(S) MLC Bhojegowda echoed similar concerns and sought the withdrawal of a proposed file on the issue. He also called for revision of lecturer-student ratios as per NCERT norms, restoration of the examination division under the PU Directorate, and withdrawal of orders affecting aided college lecturers.
Bhojegowda warned that if demands were not met, lecturers and staff were considering a statewide boycott of PU-II answer script evaluation and an indefinite protest in Bengaluru.
Reiterating the government's position, Bangarappa said discussions remained open but emphasised that "in the interest of children, we will not proceed with this."
