Big victory in bye-polls consolidates Yediyurappa's position in BJP

Politics

There has been speculation within a section of party circles and the media about Yediyurappa not completing his full term in office citing his advancing age and also the BJP central leadership allegedly not being keen on continuing with him in the top pos

PTI

The Karnataka bypoll results has consolidated Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's position and boosted his stock within the state BJP along with providing the much needed stability to the government led by him. There was much at stake for the 76-year-old Lingayat strongman in these bypolls, as any adverse results would have led to question marks over his continuation in the post and even his political future, a senior BJP functionary said. Aware of this, the veteran politician went out of the way in ensuring that the party faced the bypolls unitedly and work for the victory of disqualified legislators, who were BJP candidates in the by-elections. The four-time Chief Minister was on a campaign blitz and visited each of the 15 constituencies at least twice to ensure their victory. He publicly announced that they will be made ministers on winning and promised developmental work in their constituencies if voted to power. Amid some reports of rift between him and a section of the party's state leadership under unit president Nalin Kumar Kateel, he ensured that the party rallied together for the bypolls, and even appointed ministers of his cabinet as in-charges to each of the constituencies. He even admonished some party leaders, when cracks developed within over giving tickets to defectors, sidelining party loyalists, and stood by the disqualified by making remarks publicly that it is because of them his government was able to come to power It was no secret he did not have complete say in the cabinet expansion, appointment of three deputy chief ministers and had to run a single member cabinet for over 20 days, a party functionary had recently said, indicating that it is the strong central leadership that calls the shots. There has been speculation within a section of party circles and the media about Yediyurappa not completing his full term in office citing his advancing age and also the BJP central leadership allegedly not being keen on continuing with him in the top post for long. The BJP under the current dispensation under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have retired several senior party leaders at the age of 75. However, an exception was said to have been made in Yediyurappa's case after the BJP won 25 of 28 Lok Sabha seats during the Lok Sabha election and with an intention to have the saffron party in power in Karnataka. According to some partymen, Yediyurappa may get some respite now for the next three-and-half years -- remainder of his term -- after having ensured the party's victory in the bypolls by winning 12 of the 15 seats, that has provided stability to his four-month-old government. "With most of the new MLAs elected owing their allegiance to Yediyurappa, it seems to have strengthened his position within the party," a senior BJP leader said.

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Joe Kennedy calls on Medicare chief to resign after reports of jewelry claim, PR contracts

The Massachusetts Democrat cited POLITICO's reporting that Seema Verma asked taxpayers to cover the cost of $47,000 in stolen jewelry and other items.

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Supreme Court leaves in place Kentucky abortion restriction

The justices did not offer an explanation for their decision to refuse to hear a challenge to a lower court ruling upholding the restrictions.

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‘Transfer case to Bengaluru’: Nithyananda rape case whistleblower moves HC

Crime

Currently, Nithyananda is suspected to have left the country through illegal means, and has been skipping trial since mid-2018.

Soumya Chatterjee

Lenin Karuppan, a former disciple, who exposed the controversial self-styled godman in 2010, has moved the High Court seeking transfer of the rape case against Nithyananda to Bengaluru from the Additional District and Session Court in Ramanagara. Justice G Narendra, who was hearing the transfer petition in the High Court, on Monday issued a notice to the state government in connection with the absconding rape-accused Nithyananda. He also sought a reply from the state government about the Nithyananda’s whereabouts -- he has been skipping court since mid-2018. The transfer petition will next be heard again on December 12. Nithyananda is facing trial under Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 420 (cheating), 114 (criminal abetment), 201 (disappearance of evidence, giving false information), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and other charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Since the complaint was filed in 2010, Nithyananda has been arrested twice and been granted bail from higher courts, successfully delaying the start of the trial. Ultimately, the victims approached the apex court to seek justice. In 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition by Nithyananda seeking to quash the chargesheet in the rape case against him. He continued to file petitions to delay the proceedings and submitted documents claiming innocence, including a fabricated potency report. Currently, Nithyananda is suspected to have left the country through illegal means. The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday stated that it has cancelled his passport, and rejected his application for a fresh one. The MEA stated that his passport was due for renewal in September 2018 but was cancelled much before that and was not renewed. Amongst other criminal cases against him, Nithyananda is wanted by Gujarat Police as well in connection with a child abuse and abduction case. In late November, two of his associates were arrested, and Nithyananda was booked under sections 365 (abduction), 344 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, and under Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. Ramanagara court proceedings Meanwhile, the Ramanagara trial court on Monday did not allow a petition to issue a non-bailable warrant against Nithyananda. In fact, sources claimed the court allowed the exemption petition filed by Nithyananda’s advocate, despite objections from the Public Prosecutor. The trial court was also informed that Lenin has filed a transfer petition in the Karnataka High Court.  Curiously, the trial court which has allowed exemption petition for Nithyananda was insistent on Lenin deposing before court and submit evidence, failing which the court warned of contempt proceedings. The trial is set to continue on Tuesday as well.

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Karnataka bye-poll results: BJP now has more MLAs in Bengaluru than Congress, JD(S)

Politics

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress had the highest number of MLAs from the state capital at 14.

Soumya Chatterjee

The BJP on Monday pulled off a landslide victory in the Karnataka bye-polls, securing the Chief Ministership for BS Yediyurappa. In the process, the party has also managed to achieve yet another first of having more MLAs within Bengaluru city than the combined strength of the Congress and JD(S).  In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress had the highest number of MLAs from the state capital at 14. The BJP was limited to 12 seats and the JD(S) had won two seats.  But now, out of the 28 seats in the city, the Congress is reduced to 12 MLAs in the city, the JD(S) has been reduced to one lone MLA.  On Monday, the BJP won 12 out of the 15 Assembly seats which went to bye-polls on December 5. This means the BJP has now a strength of 117 MLAs in the 224-member Assembly. It also enjoys the support of independent MLA H Nagesh. The bye-polls were necessitated due to disqualification of 14 Congress and three JD(S) rebel legislators after they resigned from the Assembly in mid-July. The BJP had fielded 11 former rebel Congress and three former rebel JD(S) legislators who joined the party on November 14 after the Supreme Court on November 13 allowed them to re-contest, though it upheld their disqualification by then Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar. The elections for RR Nagar seat, which was vacated by the disqualification of ex-Congress MLA Munirathna Naidu, is delayed due to ongoing litigation.  Incidentally, the BJP had won the BBMP Mayoral elections too recently for the first time in four years due to the influence of the rebel MLAs.  On Monday, all the turncoat MLAs in Bengaluru – Byrathi Basavaraj from KR Puram, K Gopalaiah from Mahalakshmi Layout, and ST Somashekar from Yeshwanthpur – managed to win with significant margins. The only non-BJP person to make the cut in Bengaluru was Rizwan Arshad. He managed to emerge victorious from Shivajinagar constituency. The BJP had fielded its former corporate Saravana from the Shivajinagar constituency. Shivajinagar was earlier held by former minister and seasoned politician Roshan Baig, but his alleged involvement in the IMA Ponzi scheme resulted in him getting the cold shoulder from the BJP. Baig who had defied the party whip like 16 other Congress-JD(S) MLAs was one of the two Congress MLAs to miss out on a BJP ticket. Denied a ticket, he chose to not contest the elections this time around

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After bye-poll drubbing, Dinesh Gundu Rao resigns as KPCC President

Karnataka Bye-polls

His resignation came minutes after Siddaramaiah resigned as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka.

Soumya Chatterjee

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday resigned from his post after the party suffered a massive defeat in the bye-elections. In a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Bengaluru, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that he is taking moral responsibility for the defeat. His resignation came minutes after Siddaramaiah resigned as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka. Addressing the media, Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “I have the moral and ethical responsibility here. I had a feeling yesterday (Sunday) that something would go wrong and I discussed this with the high command and other senior leaders. Since the party did not win, I have the moral responsibility to resign. I am resigning as the KPCC President and I have informed all the leaders. I will send my resignation letter to AICC President Sonia Gandhi.”  The MLA from Gandhinagar said that he had expected the voters to teach the defectors a lesson. He said that he had worked day and night along with other leaders and party workers to campaign for the party’s candidates in the 15 segments, but had become apprehensive when the exit polls came out.  “Yes, we are deeply hurt by the results because these were leaders who betrayed us. We expected the voters to teach them a lesson. But we have to accept and respect the mandate. I would like to congratulate all candidates who won, especially Rizwan Arshad and HP Manjunath,” he said.  Dinesh Gundu Rao said that he had been given the responsibility of ensuring the party’s victory during Lok Sabha and the bye-election, but he could not deliver despite trying his best. He said that he would be submitting an analytical report to the AICC interim President Sonia Gandhi before vacating his office.  “I was the KPCC President during the Lok Sabha elections and now, during the bye-elections, I am the President. At the time of Parliamentary elections, there was a coalition and due to various reasons we could not win. The AICC gave me a chance in selecting the candidates, in allocating the responsibility to allot work to the cadre. Without consulting me, AICC had not taken any decision. And now I have to accept moral responsibility for the party’s defeat,” he added.  The bye-polls were necessitated after 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs resigned and brought down the coalition government. The bye-elections were held in 15 of the 17 segments on December 5. The results were announced on Monday and the BJP won 12 seats while the Congress won two seats. Independent candidate Sharat Bachegowda won the remaining one seat. The JD(S) did not win a single seat in the bye-polls.  

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Siddaramaiah resigns as Cong Legislature Party leader after Karnataka bye-poll loss

Politics

"I accept the moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said at a press meet on Monday.

Theja Ram

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday decided to step down as the Leader of Congress Legislature Party after the Congress suffered a massive defeat in the bye-elections.  On Monday afternoon, after the results of bye-polls in 15 Assembly constituencies were announced, Siddaramaiah decided to step down from his post, stating that he accepts moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in Karnataka.  Speaking to the media at his residence in Kaveri, Siddaramaiah said, “I believe in democracy. In these 15 segments, the voters have delivered their verdict and I respect and accept it. My expectation was that the voters would reject those who defected and betrayed their own parties. I had expected that the voters will teach them a lesson. But my expectation has fallen flat today. I accept the people’s verdict. As the leader of the Congress Legislature Party, there are a few things I have to uphold and hence, I resign from my post as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.” Siddaramaiah said that he will be sending his resignation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Karnataka in-charge KC Venugopal and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao.  Sources in the Congress said that Ahmed Patel, Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat and advisor to Sonia Gandhi, had allegedly asked Siddaramaiah to wait for a few days before making a final decision. However, sources in the Karnataka Congress say that Siddaramaiah made the decision despite Patel’s advice as the defeat had humiliated him.  I respect the mandate given by the electorate in the #KarnatakaBypolls. I expected people to teach @BJP4Karnataka leaders a great lesson for orchestrating #OpertionKamala. I am taking the moral responsibility & resigning as Leader of CLP & Leader of Opposition. pic.twitter.com/AaG9Xl3SdP — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 9, 2019 In his letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he wrote, "I express my sincere regrets for not being able to give satisfactory results in the recently concluded bye-elections despite my sincere efforts. I deem it necessary to step down as leader of CLP by taking moral responsibility." Meanwhile, sources also told TNM that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao has also decided to resign from his post as the party was able to win only two seats in the bye-elections.  Sources say that Dinesh Gundu Rao was given the chance to continue as the KPCC President after the party suffered a terrible defeat in the Lok Sabha elections so that he could prove himself in the bye-elections. However, due to the massive setback, sources say that he too has decided to resign from his post. The bye-polls were necessitated after 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs resigned and brought down the coalition government. The bye-elections were held in 15 of the 17 segments on December 5. The results were announced on Monday and the BJP won 12 seats while the Congress won two seats. Independent Sharat Bachegowda won the remaining one seat. The JD(S) did not win a single seat in the bye-polls. The massive setback comes as an embarrassment to the Congress, especially as most of the rebel MLAs were considered as Siddaramaiah’s close associates before they resigned. For Siddaramaiah, defeating these disqualified MLAs in the bye-elections was a personal fight. The Congress’s defeat was a major blow to Siddaramaiah.

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