JOIN USSiddaramaiah arraigns CM for violating poll norms
Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Friday accused Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda of violating election code of conduct by making promises during the interaction with teachers organised in the city on Thursday.
Addressing media on the premises of Institution of Engineers in the city, Siddaramaiah further alleged that the chief minister has promised to address the demands on eradicating pay parity among teachers.
Besides, he has promised hike in emoluments, which is nothing but clear violation of election code of conduct. He is misusing official machinery.
Siddaramaiah, though didn’t sound serious, said that the party has been collecting evidences to lodge a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission.
On the party’s prospects in the elections to Legislative Council from south teachers constituency, Siddaramaiah predicted that there are chances of M Lakshmana, the nominee for the polls emerging victorious. There is anti-BJP wave and it will benefit Congress, Siddaramaiah substantiated his assertion.
Moreover, what could tilt victory in favour of Congress is the announcement of candidates for all the six seats eight months ahead of the polls.
This gave ample time for the candidates to effectively campaign for the hustings. Siddaramaiah said that BJP is afraid of losing the polls again and hence is making all efforts to turn the prospects in its favour. This was evident with the biggies like none other than chief minister himself taking part in the campaign.
Barring providing bicycles and implementation of sandhya surkasha yojana, the BJP led government in the State has nothing to claim as developmental works.
Widow pension and scholarships are yet to reach the beneficiaries from last February till date. Worse is the cancellation of 35 lakh ration cards for being bogus. The irony is 50 per cent among them were genuine beneficiaries.
To continue
Replying to media queries, Siddaramaiah who refused to comment on the issue of his pending resignation as opposition leader, preferred to say- he has been directed by the party high command to continue in the same position.
He further clarified that he has not made any demand for change in guard in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), during his meeting with AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.
‘Still Congman’
“I am in Congress, Congress and still a Congressman.” This was how Siddaramaiah reacted when the rumours of possibilities of he switching sides to JD(S) was brought to his notice. M Lakshmana told Siddaramaiah that the rival party JD(S) is taking short cut to win the polls by seeking votes in the name of Siddaramaiah.
In addition to this, the party has already fielded another candidate by name C Lakshman, as an independent, just to create confusion, Lakshmana alleged. He further alleged that the rival party had arranged nine candidates by the same name. However, only two could file the papers. Of them, one nomination was rejected.