Siddaramaiah predicts fall of BJP govt, mid-term polls
Bengaluru, Sept 30: Expressing confidence that Congress would win all 15 constituencies in the coming bypolls in Karnataka, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday predicted the collapse of the BJP government and possibility of mid-term polls in the state.
Calling Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa a "weak Chief Minister", the Congress Legislature Party leader said he feels "pity" for him.
"BJP has formed the government with the support of 105 MLAs. They don't have 113 MLAs. It is a minority government, that too formed immorally by luring Congress-JD(S) legislators.
The government was not formed with public mandate," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters in Raichur, he sought to know how the government would survive if Congress wins all 15 seats.
"There are then chances that election (mid-term polls) may come," he said.
The bypolls to 15 of the 17 seats represented by the disqualified MLAs, which the Election Commission had earlier decided to defer until the Supreme Court decides on their plea, challenging their disqualification, has now been scheduled for December 5.
The 15 constituencies that will go to the polls are Athani, Kagwad, Gokak, Yellapur, Hirekerur, Ranibennur, Vijayanagara, Chikkaballapura, K R Pura, Yeshwanthpura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Shivajinagara,Hosakote, K R Pete and Hunsur.
Among the 15 constituencies, 12 were represented by Congress and three by JD(S).
Winning most seats in the coming by-elections is crucial for BJP to stay in power.
The ruling party has 105MLAs (including one independent) in the assembly, whose current strength is 208 (after 17 disqualifications).
While the Congress' strength is 66, JD(S) has 34 MLAsin the assembly, that also consists of one BSP member, a nominated member and the Speaker.
The actual strength of the assembly is 225 and the half way mark is 113.
BJP will need to win at least six seats in the bypolls for 15 constituencies to remain in majority in the assembly, which will still have two vacant seats (Maskiand R R Nagar).
Siddaramaiah, who termed Yediyurappa as a "weak Chief Minister", hit out at the BJP governments at the centre and state for its "failure" in providing relief to those affected by floods and delay in release of funds from union government.
"Yediyurappa doesn't have the courage to go to Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek central relief for flood.
At least if he takes us to them, we will raise our voices.
That's why I have said Yediyurappa is a weak Chief Minister.
I feel pity for him, he is being tortured. His feathers have been clipped by central leaders (BJP)," he said.
Questioning whether the government was functioning, he said he was not aware if there were any ministers in it, as they were "not to be seen."
One of them was camping at Mysuru to oversee the Dasara festival in that city, he said.
Karnataka has sent a flood damage estimate of Rs 35,160.81 crore to the centre and is waiting for the relief.
As many as 103 taluks in 22 districts were affected due to floods last month, in which over 80 people were killed.
Around seven lakh people were shifted to safe areas and tens of thousands of houses were damaged.
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.
UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
_vb_13.jpeg)
