Congress netas blame pact with JD(S), factionalism for poll rout

TNN

June 27, 2019

Bengaluru, Jun 27: The Congress leadership on Wednesday heard angry remonstrances from senior figures and election candidates from Karnataka, who blamed their rout in the Lok Sabha polls on factionalism in the party and the ill-considered alliance with the JD(S).

KC Venugopal, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Karnataka in-charge, held discussions with 16 of the 21 candidates who lost.

Former Union ministers Veerappa Moily and KH Muniyappa were among the politicians who expressed their displeasure at the party’s failure to rein in factions, which they said hurt their chances.

The upset group put Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao in an uncomfortable position by naming members who allegedly worked against the party’s candidates in Kolar and Ballari. A sitting Congress legislator, a minister from Ballari and a prominent leader from Kolar were identified as the mischief-makers.

According to party sources, Muniyappa, who served seven terms as an MP before losing in Kolar this time, criticised the party high command for favouring a certain faction. He was overheard saying: “Leaders will come and go, but the Congress party has to remain.”

Other defeated candidates at the meeting claimed several MLAs and Congress leaders worked against the party’s interests because of “political compulsions”. They also criticised the fractious partnership with the JD(S), saying it handed the BJP a big advantage and cost the Congress most of the “winnable” seats. The leaders, according to the sources, also cited the lack of coordination at the cadre level as one of the main reasons for the drubbing.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) also featured in the discussions, with the attendees voicing concerns about tampering and demanding the party press for return of the ballot system. The Election Commission of India has repeatedly rejected the claims about EVM manipulation.

Venugopal asked the candidates who lost to help the Congress restructure the cadre in every constituency. “We were told there will be another meeting in four days to analyse the reasons for the loss. Constituencywise data will be reviewed,” a leader said. “We will also be focusing on a renewed membership drive.”

Congress insiders said a four-member team was already gathering reports on the party’s performance from across the state and identifying troublemakers.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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