People accepted coalition government: Kumaraswamy
Urban local bodies election results
Bengaluru, September 3: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that going by the results of the urban local bodies elections, the people in the state have accepted the Congress-JDS coalition government.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that they have not gone before the people with bing-bang. Both the parties have decided to leave the party workers and candidates for themselves and fight the elections locally. Like BJP leaders, the Congress and JDS have not formed teams and campaigned. They believed that the urban voters have always been supporting the BJP. But this result has clearly showed that the BJP has been losing its popularity even in urban areas, he said.
The people have supported the 100 days administration of the coalition government in the state, for which he would be grateful to the voters. The government would give a clear answer through development works for those who have involved in false propaganda against the stability of the government. BJP leaders have been asking about the existence of the government and asking as to why the Chief Minister did not visit the north Karnataka. Did Yeddyurappa, Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar visit the north Karnataka within three months after becoming the chief ministers? He would give answers with clear evidence to all the allegations made against him, he said.
“BJP people have been asking me to publish the White Paper on the financial condition, farmers loan waiver and achievements of the government. If they want, I will publish it in saffron colour. In the local bodies where no party has got majority, we will not give room for any confusions. The Congress and JDS would have coalition during the election to presidents and vice presidents”, he said.
The coalition government has just completed 100 days in office. Within a short span of time, BJP people have been saying that the coalition partners should have swept all the seats in the state. But with the blessings of the people of the state, he would try to sweep all the seats in the Lok Sabha election in the state, he said.
Belagavi politics is different
“Belagavi district politics is different. Jarkiholi brothers have been winning the seats in Belagavi like independents. Ramesh Jarkiholi is the minister and his brother Satish Jarkiholi is the MLA. BJP leaders are day dreaming that Satish Jarkiholi will join the BJP. But their dream will not come true”.
- H.D Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister of Karnataka
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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
