MCC polls: KJP, JD(S) fishing for rebel candidates

Mangalore, Feb 20: With poll dates for the local governing bodies out, all the parties are vehemently trying to prove their worth. While the fight is going to be directly between the two national parties-the Congress and the BJP in Mangalore City Corporation. newly formed KJP and regional party JD(S) are trying to give a tough fight to the national giants. While the KJP is struggling hard to organize itself in the district, the state of JD(S) is no different.

In the Congress and BJP circles, the list of aspirants for the ticket is growing day by day while on the other hand both JD(S) and KJP are facing the major problem of paucity of good candidates to fight the elections. In such a situation, both the parties have decided to attract popular faces from the Congress and the BJP towards them rather than fielding candidates who will not be able to bag even hundred votes.

Both JD(S) and KJP are now waiting to bag some of the rebel candidates from both the parties once they are denied tickets.

While this is the plight of JD(S) and KJP, even the Congress is said to be planning to attract potential winning candidates from other parties. It is believed that the Congress is trying to get Revathi (Ward 1) into its folds after she has earned several oppositions in the BJP for her straight talks.

Another candidate Mr Harish, representing Ward No 6 too has caught the eyes of the Congress. While he was denied ticket from Congress during last election, he managed to get entry into MCC as an independent candidate. Now that the Congress has realized his worth, it is all set to correct its mistakes. However, it is said that a faction within Congress is opposing entry of Harish into Congress and is trying to field Harish's nephew Pramodh against him from Congress in the same ward.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

Comments