Archives for May 2018

The logjam in Karnataka over the Assembly elections looks set to continue, with the JD(S) accusing the BJP of attempting to poach their MLAs with bribes of Rs 100 crore each. Meanwhile, reports suggest the Congress will move the Supreme Court if governor Vajubhai Vala invites the BJP to form the government.

8 Congress MLAs and 2 JD(S) MLAs have been reported missing from their respective legislative party meets in Bengaluru
Yeddyurappa has been named BJP’s Karnataka Legislative party leader and the BJP has been granted time to prove its majority in the Assembly
HD Kumaraswamy has been offered the post of chief minister of the eleventh-hour JD(S)-Congress alliance
Congress sources confirmed to The Quint that although 73 out of 78 party MLAs have reached the venue for the meeting, all the MLAs have assured their support to the JD(S)-Congress alliance.
The document, signed by the JD(S) and Congress MLAs will be submitted to the Governor later today when JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy approaches the governor.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee phoned JD(S) party legislative chief HD Kumaraswamy to convey her wishes, reported

Quoting sources, News18 reported that few opposition leaders have advised the JD(S)-Congress alliance to approach the President if they are not invited by the governor to form the government.

Horse-Trading Allegations are Baseless: Prakash Javadekar

Debunking Congress and JD(S)’ allegations about BJP trying to poach MLAs, Karnataka party in-charge Prakash Javadekar
“They are leveling baseless charges against BJP. Poaching and horse trading is not done by BJP, Congress is famous for it. Their own MLAs are not happy with their alliance.”

He added, “Rs 100 crore figure is not only imaginary but it is what Congress-JD(S) do politics through. We are going by rules,we have submitted our claim to the Governor, are confident of forming the government.”

Cong to Move SC If Not Invited to Form Government: Reports

Congress is set to move the Supreme Court of India if the Karnataka governor invites the BJP to form the government in the state, according to reports.

3 Congress MLAs Arrive at the Meeting

Three of the 11 missing Congress MLAs have arrived at the party meeting which is underway in Bengaluru.

BJP Tried to Poach Five JD(S) MLAs: Reports

Five JD(S) MLA-elects have been approached by the BJP in a bid to poach them, reported The News Minute quoting party sources.

BJP Bribing JD(S) MLAs with Rs 100 Cr Each, Where’s Black Money Coming From?: Kumaraswamy

“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each,” HD Kumaraswamy told reporters after the JD(S) legislative meeting. “Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?”
HD Kumaraswamy Named Legislative Party Leader of JD(S)

HD Kumaraswamy was chosen as the legislative party leader of the JD(S), in a meeting of party MLAs in Bengaluru.

Day after being nominated as the chief ministerial candidate after the Congress and JD(S) got into an alliance to form the new government in Karnataka, JD(S) legislative party leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore and cabinet posts to some of his party MLAs (lawmakers).

“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?” Kumaraswamy said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Son of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy further said that he has an “offer” from the BJP, but he will not “betray” his father Deve Gowda again.

“I have been offered from both sides. I am not saying this loosely. There’s a black spot on my father’s career because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 and 2005. So God has given me the opportunity to remove this black spot. So I am going with Congress,” Kumaraswamy said.

With 104 seats BJP emerged as the largest party in Karnataka while the Congress was voted out of power on Tuesday. But the political situation in the state changed when the Congress and JD(S) announced a surprise alliance to form the government.

BJP legislature party has elected BS Yeddyurappa as its leader. As the leader of the single largest party, BSY may formally stake claim to form the government in Karnataka. But from where will the BJP get its numbers considering it is still short by seven out of 222 seats for which elections have been held in the House of 224.
These are the three possibilities which BJP could be exploring amidst the current impasse.

Operation Lotus Redux

In 2008, the BJP was just three short of the half-way mark in the state Assembly. The party got four JD(S) and three Congress MLAs to resign from the Assembly, thereby bringing down the threshold for proving majority in the House.

In the current Assembly, the BJP has 104 MLAs. It can cross the half-way mark if the effective strength of the House comes down to 207.

That is on the day of the trust vote or before 15 sitting MLAs from the opposition Congress and JD(S) camp quit.

BSY takes the Vajpayee Route

In 1996, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in by President Shankar Dayal Sharma as the Prime Minister. The BJP did not have numbers but decided to stake a claim and form the government. Vajpayee faced the trust vote, made an emotional speech which was telecast live by the national broadcaster.

After the two-day debate, former PM decided not to face the voters and instead drove down to Rashtrapati Bhavan to tender resignation. It was the BJP’s first brush with power at the Centre as the leader of a non-Congress party; and a tactical move to expand its political footprint beyond the traditional stronghold in the north and the east.

Will BSY take the Vajpayee route and face the Assembly without numbers on his side and go down as a martyr.

The target audience would be core BJP vote base in Karnataka, especially the Lingayats.

Or will BJP bow out

The third option could be BJP declining to form a government if they feel the party doesn’t have numbers in the newly elected Assembly.
But the BJP may be looking at developments in Karnataka with an eye on 28 Lok Sabha seats which will go to elections next year. A JD(S)-Congress pre-poll alliance would pose a formidable challenge to Modi’s bid for another term at the Centre.

BS Yeddyurappa,state BJP president and party’s chief ministerial candidate today claimed:A new BJP led government is assuming office tomorrow.
He was talking to media persons on the way to Raj Bhavan for submitting a letter informing his election as the leader of Bharatiya Janata Legislature party.
Later after meeting the Governor along with a party delegation he disclosed:We have submitted a letter informing about the decision of the legislature party on electing me as the leader and also reminded the Governor of our claim of forming the government.
Meanwhile the Janata Dal Secular legislature party has elected HD Kumaraswamy as leader of the party.Talking on the occasion he alleged:BJP is offering Rs 100 crores to some of our MLAs’ for changing sides.No other Union government so far has misused the Income Tax department like the way Narendra Modi’s government has done to scare the opposition party leaders and elected representatives.
In another development about 12 new legislators have failed to turn up for the maiden Congress legislature party meeting held here in a private five star hotel.They included Zamir Ahmed Khan(Chamrajpet),Akhanda Sreenivas(Pulkeshinagar),Anandsingh(Vijaynagar),B Nagendra(Kudligi),Bheemnna Naik(Hagaribommanahalli),MY Patil(Afzalpur) among many others.
The Congress party managers have refused to give any reasons for their absence.On the other hand both Congress and JDS have decided to pack off their newly elected legislators to a resort in Cochin to keep the flock intact.

Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti

JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of offering Rs 100 crores and cabinet posts to some Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs.convincing to get cabinet support,
Addressing the reporters after JDS’s legislative party meeting, Kumaraswamy said that “We will not support BJP. There is no question of any alliance with the BJP.

“We want to thank people for their support. People don’t want BJP in Karnataka,” he adds.

“JD(S) MLAs are being offered Rs 100 crore each. Where is this black money coming from? They are supposedly the servers of poor people and they are offering money today. Where are the income tax officials?”,

“BJP is misusing its power. They are distorting democratic principles. Operation Kamala is an example of this,” he said.

“BJP is misusing its power. They are distorting democratic principles. Operation Kamala is an example of this”, he further said.

“BJP is desperate to come to power. Me or my party, are not power hungry”, says Kumaraswamy. “We (JDS and Congress) have more numbers than the halfway mark. BJP are nine seats shorter than needed,” he adds.

“Forget ‘Operation Kamal’ being successful, there are people who are ready to leave BJP&come with us. If you try to poach one from ours, we’ll do the same & take double from you. I’m also telling the Governor to not take any decision which encourages horse-trading,” he said.

“BJP has also made an offer. If I side with them, the majority will be 140. But I feel responsible that I have already caused a dot in my father’s political career already because of my decision to go with the BJP in 2004 and 2005,” said Kumaraswamy.

He also accused the BJP of working against secular fabric of the country.

“I didn’t ask for the CM post, the Congress have offered me unconditional support,” the JDS leader said.

He also condemned PM Narendra Modi for saying the BJP will rule Karnataka even without the requisite numbers.

Meanwhile, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa submitted the papers of his election as BJP Legislature Party leader to Governor Vajubhai Vala and said the Governor has promised to take “appropriate decision”.

The Congress is also holding a meeting with its MLAs and has readied plans to “secure” the newly elected lawmakers at resorts.

All eyes are now on Governor Vajubhai Vala who will have to decide whether to call BJP, the single largest winner of seats, to try to form the government or go with the JD(S)-Congress combine, which together have a clear majority in the 224-member Assembly.

The Karnataka Assembly election results threw up an unexpected suspense today, as a simple majority tantalisingly eluded BJP and the Congress quickly proclaimed support to third-placed JD(S) to keep the saffron party out of power .

In a roller-coaster ride for BJP, it initially appeared that the party was set to return to power after a five-year hiatus with a resounding majority. But as all the trends became known, it appeared the party will fall a few seats short of the 112 needed to form the government.

Elections were held for 222 seats on May 12.

Congress is set to move the Supreme Court of India if the Karnataka governor invites the BJP to form the government in the state, according to reports.

JD(S) legislative party chief HD Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of offering Rs 100 crore bribe to each of his party MLA to defect while the BJP’s CM candidate for Karnataka, BS Yeddyurappa, met governor Vajubhai Vala and submitted a letter requesting him to let the BJP form the government in the state.

In the face of the BJP’s inability to cross the half-way mark in the state, the Congress and the JD(S) cobbled together an eleventh-hour alliance, with JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy being offered the post of chief minister.

JD(S) party legislative head HD Kumaraswamy accused BJP of bribing his party MLAs with Rs 100 crore each
8 Congress MLAs and 2 JD(S) MLAs have been reported missing from their respective legislative party meets in Bengaluru
Yeddyurappa has been named BJP’s Karnataka Legislative party leader
Congress and JD(S) leaders have accused BJP of trying to poach their MLAs
With their 104-seat record, the BJP has been granted time to prove their majority in the Assembly
Cong to Move Sc If Not Invited to Form Government

Congress is set to move the Supreme Court of India if the Karnataka governor invites the BJP to form the government in the state, according to reports.

3 Congress MLAs Arrive at the Meeting

Three of the 11 missing Congress MLAs have arrived at the party meeting which is underway in Bengaluru.

The Election Commission (EC) late on Tuesday cleared the result for Hubballi-Dharwad (central) Assembly segment, which was held up over the issue of mock slips not being cleared from the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM)’s control unit.

“As few mock slips weren’t cleared from the control unit of the EVM after a mock poll, we (state poll panel) had sought the permission of the Commission to count the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips instead,” state’s Joint Chief Electoral Officer A.V. Surya Sen told IANS here.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Jagadish Shettar was declared winner from the seat.

Shettar, who was Karnataka Chief Minister from 2012-13, won over Congress candidate Mahesh Nalwad by a margin of 20,944 votes.

Of the results declared for all the 222 assembly segments, BJP won 104, Congress 78 and JD-S 37, while others got three seats.

The Supreme Court on Monday gave 15 days to the Centre for inviting objections to the proposed amendments in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 and asked it to finalize it after considering all the aspects.

A bench headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur, which had earlier stayed any amendments in the Master Plan, modified its order partially asking the Centre to invite objections and thereafter finalize it after taking into consideration the objections of the public.

The apex court had on March 6 put a stay on proposed amendments to the Delhi Master Plan 2021 that sought to protect traders from a sealing drive in the national capital by increasing the floor area ratio (FAR).

During the hearing, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) sought modification of the March 6 order and said the statutory authorities cannot be prohibited from framing laws.

Venugopal also submitted an action plan for monitoring of all construction activities in Delhi and fixing responsibility in cases of violation of the Master Plan and the building byelaws.

He said strong action would be taken if it was found that unauthorised constructions have come up in an area due to the connivance of public servants.

The bench then asked the DDA to apprise it whether the government officials would be placed under suspension if they failed to perform their duty and unauthorised constructions come up in areas under their jurisdiction.

“Will you suspend such officials immediately? This does not take us anywhere. One can understand if you say that the official would be suspended immediately but you are not saying that. If you are presuming that the official is in connivance, the least you can do is to suspend the official,” the bench said.

As the Attorney General sought time to respond to the court’s query, the matter has now been posted for May 17 for further hearing.

The bench asked the DDA to advertise in the leading dailies on three consecutive days the action plan placed before it.

The DDA said the action plan aimed at curbing corruption and the persons responsible in the department would be held accountable for any unauthorised construction in their respective areas.

Hearing the arguments of the Attorney General, the bench said: “There is a garbage dump of around 68 metres high and you are not able to do anything about it. Wherever you want to take the garbage, people are objecting. The situation is irreversible. There is no water, so people cannot drink water. There is pollution, so people cannot breathe and there is garbage. Where is the city going?”

The bench also asked the Centre to publish in the newspapers the notification issued on the constitution of a Special Task Force (STF) so that the people and the stakeholders are aware of their responsibility.

The STF was formed by the Central government to monitor issues relating to unauthorised constructions in Delhi and will take steps to demolish them.

It would also identify areas of congestion of traffic in Delhi and suggest measures to remedy the same to local bodies and other agencies.

The court was hearing pleas relating to the validity of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislation protecting unauthorised construction from being sealed in Delhi.

 Even as the Congress bagged 26 seats less than the BJP in the Karnataka election, the party polled about two per cent more votes, reflecting that its vote conversion rate was less than its rival.

In the Karnataka polls, the Congress polled 38 per cent votes, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) polled 36.2 per cent votes. The Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) finished third with a vote share of 18.3 per cent.

Of the 222 assembly constituencies which went to polls on May 12, the Congress party has won in 78 seats, while the JD-S has won 37 seats. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats.

Interestingly, the Congress polled more votes this time (38 per cent) than in the 2013 assembly election, when got 36.76 per cent votes.

In 2013, the BJP had polled 20.07 per cent votes and JD(S) 20.45 per cent.