Archives for 2019

New Delhi, Apr 15 : The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi on a contempt petition filed against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Meenakshi Lekhi, for his alleged comment on the Rafale controversy, denigrating Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, sought a detailed reply from Mr Gandhi on his alleged comments.
Ms Lekhi had filed a petition in the apex court after the Congress president allegedly made derogatory remarks against Mr Modi at a recent rally.
The bench asked Mr Gandhi to file his detailed reply by April 22 and set further hearing for the following day.
SC disputes Raga claim of moral victory
Mr Gandhi had allegedly claimed a moral victory and said the apex court had made it clear that the PM “committed theft” in the big ticket fighter jet deal with France.
The Supreme Court had ruled that the leaked Rafale documents could be relied upon to review a previous judgment
Ms Lekhi then had moved the apex court seeking initiation of contempt against Rahul Gandhi.
She also stated that action should be initiated against him for levelling unsubstantiated charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale deal.
Setback to Rahul
The apex court’s issuance of notice to Mr Gandhi is seen as a big setback for him, in the midst of Lok Sabha elections.
Directing Mr Gandhi to explain his statement ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ attributed to the Supreme Court, the CJI-led bench made it clear that it had no occasion to make such kind of observation, it had only decided on the legal question of admissibility of documents.

Bengaluru, Apr 15 : To maintain a strict vigil against any malpractice during the elections, the Election Authorities, have decided not to spare even the Ambulances and Police vehicles, for conducting searches, in Bengaluru city.
Speaking at a meeting of the representatives of the Candidates of the four Lok Sabha seats, here on Monday, Mr Munish Mudgil, special officer on Model code of conduct, BBMP, informed newsmen that ?It was decided to search even ambulances and state government vehicles, for preventing any election related malpractices?.
?The decision to conduct searches on Ambulances, was taken following the reports of misuse of the Vehicles during 24/7 vigil in the next three days? he said.
The polling will be held to 14 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, on Wednesday, April-18.
He also warned the officials, assigned on the election duty, and said that ?No excuses would be entertained, for any lapse or dereliction of duties during the elections? he said.

By : Manohar Yadavatti

The ruling Janata Dal Secular regional party is facing a grave threat of being decimated from the state electoral politics after 23 May,the counting date of the ensuing Lok Sabha general elections if at all the pre poll survey reports of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies projecting the humiliating rout of state outfit were to come true.

Most of these poll projections undertaken by several private agencies have hinted at diverse results but most of them concurring at the literal wash out of the proclaimed peasants party from the electoral scene.A survey report claimed to be on the findings of the state Intelligence Department was doing rounds on the social networking sites since a few days mentioning that the Janata Dal Secular party will have to be content with only Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.

Prajwal Revanna,son of HD Revanna,Minister of Public Works Department and grandson of HD Devegowda,former Prime Minister and Janata Dal Secular party supremo is the party candidate in Hassan constituency.It may be recalled here that Hassan,the native district of the JDS patriarch has continued to be a loyal constituency for the family and the former prime minister has represented it for five times.

However he has parted it to his grandson this time while preferring to shift to the neighboring Tumakuru which had an Congress MP in the 16th Parliament.Interestingly sources in the Intelligence Department disclaimed the so called survey report abuzz on the social media while projecting a 50:50 prospects for JDS-INC combine and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

These sources on condition of anonymity opined that as per the present scenario the JDS-INC combine is set to bag 14 Lok Sabha seats leaving the remaining 14 to the BJP.The Janata Dal Secular party big boss to start with had demanded 12 constituencies and had also uttered at the same time:Ours is a small regional party and we’ll have to be content with whatever seats allotted to us!

The senior Gowda as he’s known in party circles is also notoriously known when it comes to bargaining for political fortunes.However over a period of time the octogenarian leader became flexible in his stance by downsizing the claim to 10 initially and 08 finally.Yet the self imposed misery wasn’t over as the party lacked candidates to contest in all these eight constituencies!

So Pramod Madhwaraj,a Congressman was zeroed upon to contest from Udupi-Chikkamagalur while Bengaluru North was returned to the Congress.In this way the JDS was left with Mandya,Tumakuru,Hassan,Shivamogga,North Canara and Vijayapura constituencies.
Mandya,Tumakuru,Hassan and Shivamogga are the only four constituencies wherein the party is facing a close and fiercely fought battle against the main rival Bharatiya Janata Party.

In Mandya Nikhil Kumaraswamy,actor son of HD Kumaraswamy,Chief Minister and another grandson of HD Devegowda is facing a tough fight against Ms Sumalatha,multilingual actor and wife of late MH Ambareesh,Veteran Kannada actor and former state and Union minister.In his Yesterday’s public meeting at Mysuru,Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed the electorate of Mandya to vote for Ms Sumalatha,the BJPsupported Independent candidate.The local Congress cadre is up in arms against the party’s decision for parting away the seat to the JDS fold while letting the former minister’s widow in lurch.

Any number of appeal and warning by the party high command have failed to appease the Congress workers who more than abiding the directions have challenged the former to expel them from the party itself for campaigning to the Independent candidate!

In Tumakuru SP Muddahanumegowda,sitting Congress MP is severely upset over handing over the Congress constituency to the JDS.He also filed nomination papers to contest but withdrew following a ‘deal’,according to party insiders.Although he withdrew from the contest he’s not seen anywhere campaigning for the former prime minister.It’s almost the same case with KN Rajanna,former Madhugiri MLA and president of state Apex Bank.

Prajwal Revanna is said to be retaining Hassan though he’s facing a stiff competition from A Manju,BJP candidate and former Congress minister who switched over to the saffron party on the eve of elections.Though the path of Prajwal Revanna is not all that rosy as projected in the JDS circles but thanks to the loyalty of the electorate towards the Gowda family,he may ultimately sail through is what political observers feel.

Madhu Bangarappa,son of S Bangarappa,former Congress chief minister is again pitted against BY Raghavendra,son of BS Yeddyurappa in Shivamogga.The former had lost in the bye elections to the BJP candidate.Again here it’s no cake walk for BJP’s BY Raghavendra nor is it an easy task to Madhu Bangarappa of the JDS either,thus hinting at the possibilities of BJP romping back.

The Janata Dal Secular party candidates in North Canara and Vijayapura are not worth mentioning to make it a formidable contest paving way for a one sided contest to the sitting BJP MPs’ at both the places.Ananthkumar Hegde,Union Minister for Skill Development representing North Canara has been known for his penchant for triggering controversies by his utterances uncalled for his political stature and position.He was one of the six sitting BJP MPs’ against whom there was a demand within the party opposing renomination to contest.

The fight would have been neck to neck had there been a Congress candidate against him.Thanks to the seat sharing arrangement between the alliance partners there looks to be no real contest left for the BJP candidate in North Canara!Even in Vijayapura the situation is no better for the JDS.Ramesh Jigajinagi,Union Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation has represented the reserve constituency twice.

He was also facing opposition within the party for renomination to contest.There would have been a real contest in the event of a Congress candidate.But by letting out the seat to the JDS,the Congress has made the way for Ramesh Jigajinagi to get elected to the Parliament in a easy manner.

So either way you like to look at it’s only Mandya,Tumakuru,Hassan and Shivamogga where the JDS has evolved the stature of a tough rival.However if you were also keen to observe the ongoing media frenzy campaigns there is little hope for the JDS among these constituencies as well.

In such a predicament what would be the fate of the party?Probably the outcome of these elections on 23 May will be an eyeopener and answer to all such volley of questions.

By -Manohar Yadavatti

-While the typical summer heat in the state has aggravated following the additional heat generated by the hectic electioneering campaign by rival parties the social media is abuzz over pro and against outbursts on ‘dynastic politics’.BL Santosh,National Co-Organization Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party in a way triggered the controversy while defending the party’s stance of denying ticket to Ms Tejasvini Ananthkumar to contest from Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency.

It may be recalled here that the deceased Union Fertilizers,Petrochemicals and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HN Ananthkumar had successively represented the constituency for a record number of six times.He told a media conference at Chamarajnagar,a couple of days back that the party preferred Tejasvi Surya to contest from Bengaluru South keeping the overall interests of the party for the next three decades in mind.At the same time he also claimed:If at all tickets are handed over on the basis of genes and DNA of leaders then what’s the respect left for the party receipt?

Ms Tejasvini Ananthkumar has been appointed as state BJP vice president in order to placate her following denial of the party ticket and she has been actively involved in campaigning for the party candidate in Bengaluru Lok Sabha constituency.Although Ms Tejasvini Ananthkumar herself has forgotten the issue of denial of party ticket to contest and has refrained from making any statements contrary to party’s interests,her followers and admirers look to be in no mood to let the issue be subdued.BS Yeddyurappa clarifying his position Yesterday at Hubballi claimed:If father,son and a couple of other relatives are in politics it’s okay.But if daughter in law and grandchildren get involved then it’s ‘family politics’.

BSY’s son BY Raghavendra is contesting from Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency and the latter is also a former MLA and sitting MP.BY Vijayendra,his another son is also actively involved in party affairs and was campaigning in Varuna constituency of Mysuru district to contest the Assembly elections.However he was denied the party ticket to contest on the ground that his dad is already a nominee from Shikaripur Assembly constituency.

Dr Yathindra,son of Siddaramaiah,former chief minister and leader of Congress Legislature Party(CLP) contested from Varuna constituency and won on a Congress ticket.On the other hand the family of HD Devegowda,former prime minister and Janata Dal Secular party supremo has many takers into party and power politics and the political mantle has now been passed over to the third generation.

HD Devegowda himself is the sitting MP of Hassan and has switched over to neighboring Tumakuru while leaving his traditional home turf to Prajwal Revanna,grandson.The latter is son of HD Revanna,Public Works Minister in the JDS led INC alliance state government.

Bhavani Revanna,wife of HD Revanna is the member of Hassan Zilla Parishat from Belur and tried in vain to contest from Belur Assembly constituency during the May 2018 general elections while it was the same experience with Prajwal Revanna,who was keen to contest from Rajarajeshwarinagar constituency in the city.At the time of May 2018 general elections HD Kumaraswamy had thwarted all attempts within the family for any other contender other than himself and HD Revanna,his elder brother to contest.But the same person who by then had also become the coalition government chief minister chose his wife Ms Anitha Kumaraswamy to contest from Ramanagar following his resignation as he had also been elected from the neighboring Channapatna constituency as well.
Kailashnath Patil,son of Veerendra Patil,twice Congress chief minister represented Chincholi Assemby constituency from 2004 to 2008.Madhu Bangarappa,son of S Bangarappa,late Congress chief minister is the Janata Dal Secular party candidate in Shivamogga constituency.He is also the former JDS MLA from Sorab constituency in the same district.

Dr Ajay Singh is representing Jewargi Assembly constituency in Kalaburagi district for the second time.He is the son of N Dharamsingh,late Congress chief minister.Vijay Singh,his elder brother tried in vain to contest from Bidar South in the previous general elections.Priyank M Kharge,Social Welfare Minister is second time legislator and minister and the son of Mallikarjun Kharge,leader of Congress Parliamentary Party(CPP) group in the Lok Sabha.

Mamata Hegade Nichani,daughter of Ramakrishna Hegde,the first ever chief minister of a non Congress state government contested unsuccessfully against HD Kumaraswamy in Ramanagar constituency during 2008 Assembly elections as a candidate of the Congress party.Basavaraj Bommai,is a former BJP minister and sitting party MLA from Shiggavi constituency in Haveri district.He is the son of SR Bommai,former Janata Party chief minister.

Mahima Patel,son of JH Patel,late Janata Dal chief minister is the former legislator of Channagiri constituency in Davangere district.This is only a glance of a select few former chief ministers and prominent leaders belonging to all political parties who by and large are immersed in full time family politics.

“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones” is a proverb generally used in several European countries thus hinting that one should not criticize others as everyone errs one way or the other! But politicians appear to be a different form of species altogether as the norms which generally apply to the common masses hardly make any sense to them.

By : Manohar Yadavatti

The panic buttons within the alliance partners in the state appear to have been switched on their own if you were to lend your ears to the angry outbursts of the Janata Dal Secular and Congress party leaders at public meetings across the state.Thanks to the cheering crowd of youths raising slogans like Modi…Modi… wherever the JDS-Congress leaders go it’s becoming very difficult for the latter to relish,forget digest the slogans showering heap of praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

HD Kumaraswamy,Chief Minister became annoyed and perplexed during his visit to South Canara,the coastal district where he was greeted with chants like Modi…Modi.. by the local youth.It may be recalled here that the entire coastal belt comprising of South Canara,Udupi and North Canara districts by and large are typical saffron bastions ever since early eighties.
So it was but for natural for the chief minister in not relishing the sloganeering praising the prime minister.It looked he had enough of it.He immediately aired his angry outbursts against the PM’s admirers’:What do you get by raising slogans in favor of Modi?What’s it he has done to you people…?
The PM’s fans weren’t silent spectators elsewhere either.Similar such slogans continued to echo wherever he went for election campaigning.At one place the CM lashed out at those raising pro Modi slogans in a singular fashion:What’s Modi done to you to resolve your hardships…It’s ultimately we(alliance partners) who are here to take care of your problems.
Siddaramaiah,former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party(CLP) leader is no better when it comes to public diatribe against the prime minister.These days he’s also into mono acting and loves to play to the galleries whenever the opportunity arises.He takes pleasure at throwing brickbats against the prime minister.Yesterday he made use of the road shows in the city to oust his anger against the prime minister.He also stooped too low by calling the prime minister names like a man on the street undermining both,his and the prime minister’s position and dignity.
All is fair in love and war,says a proverb and this one seems to be taken too seriously at Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.The ruling Janata Dal Secular(JDS) party leaders including the Mandya and Mysuru district in charge ministers are hurling abuses against Ms Sumalatha,Independent candidate supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party.These ugly abuses look to be taken in the right spirit by the former multilingual star and wife of the deceased film star and former minister MH Ambareesh.Sumalatha has also demonstrated that she may be a novice in politics but not bothered or perturbed about the mudslinging that’s hurled upon her everyday by the rival Janata Dal Secular leaders.
In fact the language let lose by many a Janata Dal Secular leader against Sumalatha doesn’t looks like helping the former either.Instead it looks to boomerang the prospects of the party candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the ensuing elections.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been barred from campaigning for the next three days for his communal comments, criticised by the opposition as a blatant violation of the Model Code. The Election Commission also took action against Mayawati, barring her from campaigning for 48 hours for her provocative speech.

The action by the Election Commission came as the Supreme Court today pulled up the poll body for failing to take action in cases of Model Code violation and questioning if it was even aware of its powers to have errant political leaders fall in line.

The court, which was hearing an appeal seeking action against political parties using use religion and caste to seek votes, had been extremely upset when the Election Commission representative said, “We don’t have any powers. We can’t bar them from contesting. We can derecognise them”.  

“The Election Commission says ‘we are toothless’. They issue a notice if someone violates model code…or uses religion or caste for votes…then an advisory of they don’t follow notice… We would like to examine the matter, we want a representative of the EC who is conversant with the details to appear,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had said.  

Within an hour, the Commission – which had earlier issued notices to Yogi Adiyanath and Mayawati – issued orders against them, invoking special power under Article 324 of the Constitution.

In an interview to NDTV earlier today, asked about the opposition criticism that the commission was soft on powerful political leaders, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said while there are options like debarring the candidate from the polling process, “I don’t think, even sending an advisory to a person who is CM of biggest state, that too in black and white, that is a slap on the wrist”.7

He, however, said now they have the full transcript on his “Ali, Bajrangbali” comment. “We have got all the transcripts, we will be taking a call tomorrow,” he added.