Speculations about "changes" is media creation; BJP will face 2023 polls united: CM Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said there is coordination between the BJP and the government in Karnataka, and the party will face 2023 assembly polls united with its good work, as he termed speculations about "changes" as media creation.
The CM was responding to media queries regarding possible discussion at BJP state core committee and executive meetings on December 28 and 29 respectively in Hubballi, which according to reports is likely to be attended by party National President J P Nadda.
"I don't know.... see, all these speculations are your (media) creation. You create and you ask questions....there is no need to tell you what politics we discuss. What has to be discussed in which situation, we will discuss accordingly, it is an internal matter of the party," Bommai said in response to questions on possible "changes" and cabinet reshuffle, during the meetings.
Speaking to reporters he said, "...all those things you are asking, the party high command is aware of and is observing, there are no issues. There is coordination between the administration and the party. We want to bring more good programmes in the days to come and will face the 2023 polls unitedly, by going before the people with our work and programmes."
There have been speculations about leadership change in Karnataka and Bommai's possible exit for some time now, which refuses to die down despite the party rejecting it.
In response to a question on action against party leaders like Ramesh Jarkiholi following BJP's defeat from the Belagavi MLC seat, Bommai merely said, "party high command is seized of the matter."
In a major blow to the BJP, independent candidate Lakhan Jarkiholi, one among Ramesh Jarkiholi's brothers, emerged victorious during the counting of second preferential votes in Belagavi, during the recent MLC polls from local authorities constituencies, resulting in the defeat of party's official candidate Mahantesh Kavatagimath.
Responding to a question on opposition from businesses to the night curfew and New Year curbs imposed by the government, Bommai said, "We had to take certain decisions from a health perspective, we too want business and trading to happen as the economy has picked up..."
Regarding people in large numbers flocking tourist destinations, he said, "People are free to go anywhere, but they will have to follow COVID norms wherever they go."
Amid fresh COVID concerns, the state government had on Sunday decided to impose night curfew for 10 days from December 28 between 10 PM and 5 AM.
The government banned all New Year parties and gatherings in public places like eateries, hotels, pubs, clubs and restaurants, which have been asked to operate with 50 per cent of their seating capacity from December 30 to January 2.
Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry and hotel and pub owners have requested the government to reconsider its decision.
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TMC MP Saugata Roy says Moitra cried after spat, demands chief whip Kalyan Banerjee's sacking
New Delhi/Kolkata, Apr 8 (PTI): Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was seen crying after a spat with colleague Kalyan Banerjee before a TMC delegation met the Election Commission last week, party MP Sougata Roy said on Tuesday and demanded Banerjee be removed as the party's chief whip in the House over behavioural issues.
His remarks came as purported videos and WhatsApp chats emerged of the bitter exchanges between TMC MPs, including Kirti Azad, who had advised Banerjee to exercise restrain.
Talking to reporters in Kolkata, Roy accused Banerjee of being "uncivilised" on multiple occasions and mentioned that during a JPC meeting on the Waqf Bill, the Srerampore MP broke a bottle and threw it at the chairman of the panel.
With BJP leader Amit Malviya sharing videos purportedly showing Banerjee shouting at his colleagues while entering the Election Commission's office as party leaders tried to calm him down, Roy confirmed that an altercation took place but added that he was not present there.
According to a source in the TMC, the spat occurred on April 4 when a delegation of TMC leaders met the full bench of the Election Commission over the duplicate voter ID numbers and also staged a march to Parliament after that.
The source said that Banerjee was given the charge of getting the signatures of TMC MPs on a memorandum that the party was to submit to the EC. Moitra had alleged that she was not included in the signatories and slammed Banerjee over it outside the EC office, the source said.
A war of words broke out between the two MPs and Banerjee has claimed that Moitra had asked security personnel at the EC office to arrest him.
Reacting to the issue, Roy said, "I was not there when this altercation between Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra took place. I was at Vijay Chowk and the spat took place in front of the Election Commission office. I saw Mahua crying and complaining to several MPs, of other parties also, about Kalyan's behaviour."
"Whatever happened is unfortunate," he said, adding that the party's "internal matters" were being "leaked'. He, however, clarified that Moitra did not tell him anything directly.
"She told another MP. She said that he (Banerjee) behaved in an uncivilised manner," Roy said, adding the chief whip of the party in the Lower House of Parliament is known for his intemperate and uncivilised behaviour.
"I feel it is beneath my dignity to reply to whatever Kalyan Banerjee may have said. His uncivilised behaviour had been in our focus several times. He called (Union Minister) Jyotiraditya Scindia 'lady killer' and later apologised to him.
"During the JPC meeting on Waqf, he broke a bottle and threw it at the chairman of the panel. Kalyan is known for his intemperate and uncivilised behaviour. So far, I did not speak about it because it's beneath my dignity. I heard from you that he has said things against me and that's why I have replied," Roy told reporters.
He said Kalyan Banerjee should be removed from the post of the chief whip of the party in Lok Sabha. "But I leave it to (Trinamool supremo) Mamata Banerjee's judgment."
"That Kalyan is not fit to be on the post is apparent to me. I have not said it so far, but because of his behaviour and his incorrect English. But now, I think the time has arrived to see into it," Roy said.
"I do not expect Kalyan to uphold my dignity. I think I can do that... I have been in Parliament for five years, in Assembly for another five and these are pretty long tenures for people to judge. I don't want Kalyan Banerjee's certificate. Let him learn his English first," he said.
The screenshots of WhatsApp messages, purportedly from a group chat of TMC MPs, that was shared on X by Malviya, showed that Banerjee had a tiff with Kirti Azad, the party MP from Durgapur, with the Srerampore MP referring to an unknown "versatile international lady?"
In the purported group chats, Banerjee had posted a message, saying that he had reached Kolkata. Then he added, "Send your BSF and Delhi Police to arrest me. Your home ministry connection is a very strong international great lady."
Another message, purportedly by Banerjee, read, "Today I congratulate the gentleman who opened the beautiful activities of a versatile international lady. That day not a single boyfriend of hers stood behind her. This foolish man whom she wanted to arrest by BSF, stood behind her. Today of course 30 years famous player stood behind her to get me arrested."
In response, Kirti Azad could be seen purportedly asking Banerjee to not act like a "juvenile delinquent." A still unrelenting Banerjee threw a few more sallies at Azad, one of which was terming him a "captain of... internal politics."
"Your popularity is so much that you lost election in cricket. Let me see your power to get me arrested for your friend. Do not worry I will go to Durgapur and open your musk (sic)," he purportedly wrote in the group chat.
Another party source said Banerjee was upset with Azad earlier when he had prepared a proposal demanding that a sweetmeat outlet selling 'sandesh', a traditional Bengali sweet, be opened in the Parliament House.
The source said Banerjee had opined that if a stall has to be opened in the Parliament House, it should be a franchise of the West Bengal government.
Minor correction : date is 4th Apr 2025 and not 2024. https://t.co/Clus9LkNb0
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 8, 2025
