Kolar MLA K Srinivasa Gowda
Highlight
- Two disgruntled Karnataka JD(S) MLAs did not vote in favor of their candidate in Rajya Sabha elections
- MLA Srinivasa Gowda casts vote for Congress candidate, said- I voted for Congress because I love Congress
- JD(S) has fielded former MP D Kupendra Reddy as its candidate.
Rajya Sabha electionsThe party on Friday said that two disgruntled Karnataka JD(S) MLAs did not vote in favor of its candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls for four seats in the state.
The party’s Kolar MLA K Srinivasa Gowda cast his vote for the Congress candidate and admitted that he did it because he liked to vote for the Congress candidate. JD(S) Legislature Party leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed displeasure at his colleagues saying that Gubbi MLA SR Srinivas put an empty ballot paper in the box, which would be considered invalid.
Gowda, who has kept a distance from the JD(S) and had mingled with the Congress for some time, said after casting his vote, “I voted for the Congress because I like it… my future politics.” I am with Congress. I was a Congress minister earlier.”
While Gowda admitted that he voted for the Congress candidate, Srinivas rejected Kumaraswamy’s claim and insisted that he voted for his party’s choice. Kumaraswamy was clearly angry with Gowda.
Kumaraswamy said, “If there is any decency in the person who wins on JD(S) ticket with the support of our workers, then let him resign and do politics. He has insulted the people of Kolar and JD(S) workers.” “
Talking to reporters here, he said there was no point on the part of the party to take any action against him as it was of no use, indicating that anti-defection laws were ineffective in stopping such activities.
Questioning the “ethics” of Congress leaders, he said, “They go to people raising slogans to save democracy, while Siddaramaiah and others indulge in low level politics by kidnapping MLAs of other parties.. How different is Congress from BJP? Congress is helping BJP win, will Srinivasa Gowda’s vote help them win,” the former chief minister asked.
Despite not having the required number of votes to win, the JD(S) has fielded former MP D Kupendra Reddy as its candidate.
A candidate needs the support of 45 MLAs to win a seat, but the JD(S) has only 32 MLAs. Congress has rejected JD(S)’s request for support. Further asserting that Gubbi’s JD(S) MLA SR Srinivas has claimed that he has voted for the party, Kumaraswamy said, “Actually what he has done while voting on ballot paper. His truth will come out by evening.” Will go,” he said. , The votes cast in today’s election will be counted later in the day.
“Such low level politics, are they MLAs? They have put in an empty ballot box. They have not voted for anyone, but outside the polling station, in front of the media, they have claimed that they have voted for the JD(S). Voted,” he alleged.
Srinivas, however, rubbished Kumaraswamy’s allegations and said that he voted for the JD(S) and showed the ballot paper to the party’s agent, insisting that the truth would come out when the votes were counted in the evening. Since this election has an open ballot system, each legislator (voter) must show his ballot paper to his designated party agents after making his choice.
Meanwhile, BJP and Congress have demanded that JD(S) MLA HD Revanna’s vote be treated as invalid, alleging that he showed the ballot paper to state Congress president DK Shivakumar (another party agent). Revanna refuted the allegation, saying, “I have not shown it to Shivakumar, I have shown it to my senior MLA Puttaraju.”
“Let them do whatever they want. Why didn’t they object to putting the ballot paper in the box in front of me? They could have stopped me from putting the paper in the box. Congress and BJP are together against us and are lying. allegation,” he alleged.
(with PTI input)
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