Prajwal throws hat into RR Nagar ring, puts HDK in spot of bother

DHNS

March 2, 2018

Bengaluru, Mar 2: Though the odds are against him, JD(S) general secretary Prajwal Revanna has decided to launch his election campaign in Rajarajeshwarinagar (RR Nagar) constituency in Bengaluru after March 4.

As part of his election strategy, Prajwal will be mounting his attack on Congress' Munirathna, the sitting MLA of RR Nagar.

Prajwal has already been going around the constituency trying to expose the "wrongdoings" of Munirathna. This, despite his name not figuring even in the first list of JD(S) candidates. The party's state president H D Kumaraswamy is said to have promised the ticket to former corporator R Prakash.

"My high command is Deve Gowdaji, and he is very keen that I take a plunge into politics. He wants me to contest the elections. I am not bothered if my name is in the list or not. I am not sitting in my house and asking for a ticket. I have always been a worker - I will continue to work for the people. I have decided to launch my election campaign after March 4," he told DH on Thursday.

A video has surfaced where Prajwal is seen appealing to the RR Nagar voters to overthrow Munirathna, if they want to end the "hooliganism culture" in the constituency.

Prajwal, who was in the constituency on February 24, had charged that Munirathna had "tried to outrage the modesty of a woman corporator" and that the safety of women was at stake in the constituency.

Prajwal was referring to an incident on May 20, 2017, where his party corporator Manjula Narayanswamy was assaulted by a group of women, said to be supporters of Munirathna.

He also said that it wasn't a "big deal" that Prakash was claiming to be the candidate. "It's not a big deal that Prakash is going around, claiming that he is the candidate. Whoever the candidate is - Prajwal or XYZ, they have to come to the field and expose the flaws of the MLA. This is what I am doing. What's the point if you don't have the guts to do so?" he said.

It is rumoured that Prajwal is upset with Kumaraswamy for entering into a tacit understanding with Munirathna this time. According to sources, Kumaraswamy is said to have assured Munirathna that the party will not field Prajwal in the constituency, thereby ensuring his victory. Munirathna is producing Kannada film 'Kurukshetra,' featuring Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil.

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‘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.

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