BJP claims principal opposition party status in Karnataka

Bangalore, Jan 4: Armed with B S Yeddyurappa-led Karnataka Janata Paksha's (KJP) merger mandate, BJP today staked its claim to the principal opposition party status in the Assembly pressing their case before the Speaker.

"We have submitted a letter to the Honourable Speaker (Kagodu Thimappa) seeking the status of principal Opposition Party," BJP Floor Leader in Assembly Jagadish Shettar told reporters outside the Speaker's chamber here.

BJP's claim comes a day after Yeddyurappa, hastening formalities for the merger, met the Speaker and conveyed KJP's merger decision. If the KJP-BJP merger is ratified by the Election Commission, JDS would lose its status of principal opposition as it would increase BJP's tally of seats.

Both BJP and JDS had secured 40 seats each in the May 8 Assembly polls, but the latter was given principal opposition status on the basis of the percentage of votes secured by it.Shettar said the Speaker told them he is examining the matter and added the merger issue would be decided by the Election Commission. "If two-thirds of the members of any party merges with any other party, then (the authorities concerned) should consider the merger," he added.

Even as BJP and KJP are going through the process of merger, they are facing some hiccups in the form of KJP MLAs Guru Patil and B R Patil, who are opposing the move.Another hiccup came in the form of KJP Founder Padmanabha Prasanna Kumar as he met Thimappa and requested him to stop the merger process as a case is pending in the Karnataka civil court and the Supreme Court.

"I requested the Speaker to stop the process until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the issue of presidentship of KJP," said Kumar, who has challenged the EC's order recognising Yeddyurappa as KJP President.

Kumar had formed KJP which had remained a non-entity until Yeddyurappa deserted BJP and joined that party at a rally in Haveri on December 9 last year to become its chief. Kumar claimed Yeddyurappa had violated election rules, while declaring himself as President of KJP.EC had subsequently recognised Yedyurappa as KJP President and rejected Kumar's claim as the Founder President.

Shettar said he would remain the Floor Leader in the Assembly. "I am the Floor Leader for now, and will continue to be so," he said. Yeddyurappa will join BJP on January 9, Shettar said.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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