Over 100 BJP leaders to join Congress in Afzalpur
Kalburgi: In a major setback to the BJP and its nominee from Afzalpur in the imminent Assembly polls Malikayya Guttedar, over a 100 party activists, including office-bearers of the party structure at various levels and elected representatives, have resolved to quit the BJP to join the Congress.
At a press confenerece here, M.Y. Patil, a senior leader who recently quit the BJP to join the Congress after his arch-rival Guttedar left the Congress and joined the BJP, released a collective resignation letter which was signed by over 100 local leaders.
Those who have signed the resignation letter included BJP’s district unit secretary Prakash S. Jamadar, district farmers wing vice-president Tukaramgowda Patil, State unit member Shivananda Gadi, mandal vice-presidents Bhimaraya Gaura, Bhasha Patel Hasaragundi, Bhiranna Pujari and Mandal secretaries Sharanu Kumbar, Manjunath S., Ashok Sidagante, Nijaguna Chakravarthi, Yallanagowda Patil and Siddamma Guled.
Mr. M.Y. Patil, who is likely to be the Congress candidate in Afzalpur, claimed that 10 taluk panchayat members, five zilla panchayat members, a majority of Afzalpur Town Municipal Council members and a large section of party workers were supporting him. “Taluk panchayat and municipal council members would tender resignation to the BJP and join me in the Congress as their action doesn’t attract the anti-defection law. Zilla panchayat members, however, will not officially quit the party in view of the law. Most of the zilla panchayat members are women. They will technically continue to be in BJP, but their husbands will practically campaign for the Congress,” he said.
On denial of BJP ticket to him, Mr. M.Y. Patil said that the party leadership preferred Mr. Guttedar over him as he had assured the party leadership that he would ensure a victory of the party candidates in at least 15 constituencies in the Hyderabad Karnataka region.
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MCC violation: Karnataka HC grants interim relief to DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, facing charges of model code violation during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
Justice Krishna S Dixit directed the authorities concerned to refrain from taking further action against him until the next hearing, on his petition challenging the FIR registered against him.
The case was registered on April 19 following a complaint by the BJP to the Election Commission of India alleging that Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, attempted to blackmail voters. The BJP claimed that during an election speech at Rajarajeshwari Nagar, while campaigning for his brother and LS candidate D K Suresh, Shivakumar promised voters Cauvery water supply and occupancy certificates in exchange for votes for the Congress.
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Expressing reservations, the Court questioned whether the remarks attributed to Shivakumar would constitute offences under Sections 171B (bribery) and 171C (undue influence at elections) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The judge emphasised the need for deeper consideration of the matter and sought to know whether Shivakumar's statements strictly meet the parameters of the charged sections.
However, the Court asked Shivakumar's counsel to advise his client to be more cautious in his speeches. Additionally, it raised concerns regarding the time given to Shivakumar by the EC to respond to a notice served on him. Granting interim relief to Shivakumar, the Court expressed dismay over the declining standards of election speeches and noted that the quality, content, and presentation have fallen "abysmally low."
Justice Dixit remarked that it was uncertain if such standards could deteriorate further. The Court recorded an assurance from Shivakumar's counsel that the Congress leader had been advised to exercise caution over his remarks.
