K’taka Deputy CM Parameshwara says he tried for CM post but was overlooked thrice

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Tumakuru (Karnataka), June 8 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has spoken about his leadership journey and his repeated disappointment over not being made Chief Minister on three occasions, including the recent formation of the Congress government when D.K. Shivakumar was considered for the top post, and he was assigned the Deputy Chief Minister’s role.

Parameshwara said on Monday that in 2013, he lost the Assembly election and believes that had he won, Siddaramaiah may not have become Chief Minister at that time. “Due to my loss, Siddaramaiah became CM,” he said.

It may be noted that there were strong allegations that Siddaramaiah ensured Parameshwara’s defeat in the Assembly elections to secure the Chief Minister’s post. However, Siddaramaiah has clarified that he had no role in Parameshwara’s defeat.

Parameshwara further noted that in 2018, despite the Congress winning a larger number of seats, the JD(S), which had only 30 MLAs, formed a coalition government, and H.D. Kumaraswamy went on to become Chief Minister due to political circumstances.

“I would have become Chief Minister, but for some unknown reasons, I was not made CM. This is the second time it was missed. This time, I made an attempt and was confident, but political decisions depend on several factors. Ultimately, I was given the post of Deputy Chief Minister,” he said.

He also revealed that he had at one point told the party high command that if he was not being considered for the Chief Minister’s post, he should be allowed to step aside, as he carries greater responsibilities.

Parameshwara said that political office comes with responsibility and discipline. “We cannot behave as we wish. The people are watching us. I always tell my colleagues that people observe us under a magnifying glass, and we must be careful,” he said.

According to sources, the Deputy Chief Minister became emotional and reportedly broke down in tears in front of close associates, expressing disappointment over being denied the Chief Minister’s post on three occasions.

Parameshwara made the remarks while interacting with staff at Siddhartha College, recalling his entry into politics. “Politics was never my plan. Everything happened by chance. When Rajiv Gandhi came as Prime Minister to our campus, I got an opportunity to meet him, and I eventually joined the party,” he reportedly said.

He added that he has completed nearly 40 years in politics and has held several key positions, including party president and Deputy Chief Minister, but has never been given the Chief Minister’s post.

His remarks have gained political significance amid reports that the Congress party is preparing to project D.K. Shivakumar as its Chief Ministerial face for the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka as part of its strategy to counter the BJP and JD(S) alliance.

Party sources say Parameshwara’s statement has created concern within the leadership, as he is a prominent Dalit leader, and any perceived sidelining could send a negative message to key voter groups.

–IANS

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KSRTC driver altercation case: Court issues notice to former Thiruvananthapuram Mayor, MLA husband

Thiruvananthapuram Dec 22 (IANS) A Thiruvananthapuram court has issued notices to former city Mayor Arya Rajendran and Balussery MLA K.M. Sachin Dev in connection with a complaint of KSRTC driver Yadu.

The notices were issued after the court admitted a petition filed by Yadu challenging the police decision to exclude the two leaders from the charge sheet.

The court has directed Rajendran, Sachin Dev and Arya, the wife of Rajendran’s brother, to appear before it either in person or through their lawyers on January 21.

The court’s action follows Yadu’s plea seeking to set aside the police charge sheet, which had named only Arya Rajendran’s brother, Aravind, as the accused in the case.

According to Yadu, the police erred in dropping the names of Arya Rajendran and Sachin Dev from the charge sheet despite their alleged involvement in the incident.

He has demanded that they be arraigned as accused and that the investigation be reopened.

In a fresh submission to the court, Yadu alleged that a crucial piece of evidence in the case — the CCTV memory card from the KSRTC bus — was destroyed and that this was done by the then conductor, Subin, under pressure from Rajendran and Sachin Dev.

Yadu contended that the footage allegedly showed Sachin Dev entering the bus and engaging in violent behaviour.

He further alleged that the police investigation was biased and incomplete.

He claimed the police were initially reluctant to register a case against the then mayor and did so only after directions from the court.

He also accused the police of failing to trace and recover the CCTV memory card, which he said weakened the case.

Earlier reports had indicated that the police registered the FIR following court intervention.

Yadu has maintained that the investigation was conducted in a manner favourable to the accused and sought a fresh probe with the conductor also named as an accused.

The court’s decision to issue notices is being seen as a relief for the complainant.

The case is expected to come up for further consideration in January, when the court will decide on Yadu’s demand for reinvestigation and inclusion of additional accused.

The incident occurred in April last year, and since then, the young Mayor had come under severe attack.

Social media is buzzing with claims that this was one incident which led to the BJP turning into the single biggest party in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation for the first time when it won a record 50 of the 100 seats to which elections were held.

–IANS

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98.5 pc land records digitised in rural areas, modernisation drive extended to 2026: Centre

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) The government on Thursday said it has achieved digitisation of “record of rights” to the extent of 98.5 per cent of available land records (except some northeast states and Ladakh) in rural areas.

The ‘Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme’ (DILRMP) has been extended up to March 2026 and an amount of Rs 2,428 crore has been released to states/UTs from 2008-09 to 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Rural Development.

Also, 1,150 projects have been sanctioned across 28 states and 2 UTs (Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh), with Rs 4,574.54 crore (56 per cent) of the Central share disbursed (as of December 20), the ministry informed.

In September 2024, the Department has launched a new programme “NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations (NAKSHA)” under the DILRMP scheme for the creation of land records in urban areas as a pilot in 150 cities across the country.

According to the government, the pilot programme is implemented with the active cooperation of the Revenue and Urban Development departments of states/UTs and is proposed to be completed in a year’s time.

A financial outlay of Rs 193.81 crore has been allocated for the programme. This programme will provide clarity on ownership of land and solve land-related disputes in urban areas, said the government.

With regards to the digitalisation of maps/field measurement books, 95 per cent of maps/field measurement books have been digitised.

Cadastral maps have been linked to the ‘Record of Rights’ in 72 per cent of villages in the country.

“Registration of land and property has been computerised under DILRMP to the extent of 96 per cent of sub-registration offices (SROs). Integration of Revenue and Registration records have been completed in 89 per cent of SROs in the country,” the government said.

An innovative measure taken up in DILRMP is the assignment of ULPIN/ Bhu-Aadhaar (Unique Land Parcel Identification Number) to land parcels. So far, ULPIN has been assigned to 23 crore land parcels.

–IANS

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‘Accused are not freed yet’: Lawyer of Disha Salian’s father responds to CBI’s closure report on SSR case

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) The recent filing of closure reports by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death cases of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) has sparked fresh debates and controversies. Advocate Nilesh C Ojha, representing Disha Salian’s father, has responded strongly to the CBI’s move, asserting that a closure report does not automatically exonerate the accused and that further investigation can still be ordered.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Ojha emphasised that the closure report filed by the CBI in the cases related to Rajput does not mean that the accused are off the hook.

“First of all, there has been no authentic statement from CBI on the closure report. Even after a closure report is submitted, it does not imply that the accused are freed. There is always the possibility that the court could reject the report if it finds it unsatisfactory or if further evidence emerges. The court could order further investigations, issue fresh charge sheets, or even issue arrest warrants against the accused, as seen in cases like the Aarushi Talwar murder case,” he said.

Ojha further clarified that he had not yet seen the closure report and that the CBI had not provided any official or authentic statement regarding its findings.

He cited examples of previous high-profile cases, such as that of Justice Nirmal Yadav, where the courts had ordered further investigations after rejecting closure reports.

“The court may not accept the closure report if it finds the investigation incomplete or unsatisfactory. In such cases, a fresh charge sheet may be filed, or even arrest warrants could be issued,” he added.

Addressing the ongoing political debates surrounding the case, Ojha firmly rejected the notion that political motivations were driving the case.

“While politicians may have their own agenda, this case is about seeking justice for Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput, not political gains. The legal process should remain independent and focused on finding the truth, not influenced by political dynamics,” Ojha added.

He also detailed the legal steps taken by Disha Salian’s father in his fight for justice. According to Ojha, Disha’s father had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in September 2023, prompting the Maharashtra government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by December of the same year.

Ojha further pointed out that despite the SIT’s formation and Disha’s father’s statements in support of reopening the case, there was a significant delay in action from the authorities.

“In January 2024, a formal complaint was filed by Disha’s father, which included evidence and sought to register a case of gang rape and murder against individuals such as Aditya Thackeray. However, the complaint was delayed for many months, and despite submitting substantial evidence, the case was not registered,” Ojha added.

The advocate highlighted key unanswered questions in the case, which he believes require urgent attention.

“Disha Salian’s father is demanding answers to four crucial questions: Was Aditya Thackeray’s mobile tower location linked to the incident? Was he in the vicinity at the time? Why was a false post-mortem report created? And why were witnesses reportedly threatened?” he said.

Ojha stressed that these unresolved issues point to serious manipulations in the investigation and the need for transparency and accountability.

He also noted that the original claims made by the police, such as the narrative of Disha Salian’s death by falling from the 14th floor without any visible injuries, raise doubts.

“When the post-mortem report shows no fractures or blood loss, it raises serious questions about the authenticity of the investigation. The authorities must look into these discrepancies,” Ojha concluded.

Sushant (34), popularly known as SSR, was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020, sparking a major controversy. The investigation was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation. His postmortem report, conducted at Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital, stated the cause of death was asphyxia.

–IANS

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