Latest news with #Ponnanna
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
EC not answering questions raised by Rahul Gandhi: Siddaramaiah's Legal Advisor on ‘election theft'
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Legal Advisor and Congress MLA A.S. Ponnanna said on Wednesday that the Election Commission (EC) is not answering the questions asked by the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and instead is asking him to give oath along with his complaint regarding the 'election fraud.' 'They (EC) are not coming out clean and are not answering questions raised by the LoP Rahul Gandhi. Instead of answering the grave questions which touch upon the very basics of Indian democracy, the ECI has taken an approach which not even the students of law can accept,' Ponnanna told media persons in Bengaluru. He said that in response to the grave allegation of gross illegalities, discrepancies in the voters' list made by LoP Rahul Gandhi, the Election Commission came up with the shocking reply, and demanded that the LoP Rahul Gandhi should come on oath in terms of Rule 20 (3) of the Registration of Electors' Rule 1960, and also threatened that the action would be taken if he does not abide by the instructions. 'These rules, the Electors' Rules 1960, have no applicability whatsoever to the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi. To extract one subclause of a rule and quote that in a general response is absurd. The electoral rules deal with the registration of electors, objections to these registrations and claims,' he said. Ponnanna point out that these rules can't be taken in a subclause form and shown in defence. 'Rules 12 to 20 deal with this entire process. It deals with individual voters who request to be added, objectors who object to such actions and objectors who want voters to be deleted,' he said. He said that the Election Registration Officer is entitled to deal with such objections and such claims by either accepting or rejecting without any enquiry, and added that he has the power under Rule 70. 'If he feels that an enquiry is to be initiated, he can start a summary inquiry, issue a notice to the claimant or the objectors. In the process of that inquiry, in his discretion under subclause 3 of Rule 20, he can ask either the claimant or the objector to come out on oath,' he said. Ponnanna said that this is the procedure for the inclusion and deletion of voters. 'If I want to be a voter in Bengaluru, this is the procedure. Now, how does this apply to the allegations of illegalities and total misuse of machinery under an unclean electoral list, as mentioned by LoP Rahul Gandhi? There is no applicability,' he further pointed out. He claimed that it is appalling that the ECI, which is a Constitutional body entrusted with maintaining the sanctity of the election process and electoral list, is coming up with absurd defences. 'This entire response of EC shows that they are trying to hide something,' claimed Ponnanna. Earlier, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbukumar had issued a notice to LoP Rahul Gandhi asking him to produce relevant documents regarding his charges of election fraud. The CEO also underlined in the notice that the document shown in the press conference by LoP Rahul Gandhi is not official.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Government Had Nothing To Do With RCB Celebration: Siddaramaiah's Adviser
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government had nothing to do with the event at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy stadium that led to the stampede following the IPL victory of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said AS Ponnanna, Congress MLA and legal advisor to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. With the matter snowballing into a massive political row as the government appeared to point fingers at the police and the RCB, Mr Ponnanna asserted that the government did not announce the event or organise it. "The RCB is the franchisee that won the IPL. They wanted to celebrate... so that their ratings, their valuation, their team goes up because huge people are going to gather. KSCA is the location where this whole celebration takes place. DNA is the in-between media agency. The police are the ones who are supposed to man and provide security, ensure that such assemblies take place well within law and order limits, make sure nobody gets hurt, make sure nobody dies... So, these are the stakeholders," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. When something like this happens, the opposition and others join the bandwagon and point fingers at the government, he said. "It may all look good," he added, but the "cold facts" say the government has "nothing to do with this celebration". Asked about how many people felt that Mr Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar were part of the celebration and appeared to want to take credit, Mr Ponnanna said the government was not the one to permit or stop the event. It was merely a participant, who cannot be held liable. "It may suit TRP, it may suit the opposition to make this a political issue, but not everything is political," he said. Earlier today, the RCB strongly objected to the Central Administrative Tribunal's order that said the franchisee was responsible for the June 4 stampede that left 11 people dead and 56 injured. The RCB told the Karnataka High Court today that it wants such statements expunged. "It was the Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, who had picked the team from the airport, and took them to the Vidhan Soudha, where announcements were made about the event at the stadium," RCB's advocate Sandesh Chouta had told the court. The CAT order on the June 4 stampede has said after their maiden IPL win, the champions had failed to consult the police or seek their permission before "unilaterally" inviting lakhs of people to the celebration at the stadium. The report had also highlighted the RCB's failure to follow standard operating procedures to ensure safety before hosting a public event. Mr Ponnanna pointed out that the RCB bearing responsibility for the tragedy was not the conclusion of just the government and multiple inquiries are being conducted into the matter. Besides the CAT case, there is a one-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry, a Magistral Inquiry and the parallel investigation by the police. The state government had faced massive criticism of mismanagement after the stampede, with reports indicating that the police were hamstrung by having their forces split between the stadium and the Vidhan Soudha where the Chief Minister and other dignitaries waited. The government action against the police - with suspension of three top officers - also drew much criticism from the opposition. Initial inquiry also indicated that contrary to the government's claim that the event was a last-minute plan, the RCB had posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the felicitation event on June 4.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Yaduveer seeks disaster relief funds for Kodagu
Madikeri: Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar met Union home minister Amit Shah and requested him to release funds through the National Disaster Management Fund to address rain damages in Kodagu district. He met Shah in Delhi and explained the damages sustained to public properties due to heavy rain. He requested additional relief through the NDRF. The additional funds will enable the construction of barrier walls and road repair. He requested that compensation be provided to solve the problems faced by tobacco and coffee growers and the losses caused by the rain. He stated that he asked the minister to focus on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in Kodagu district, and requested the home ministry to take appropriate steps in this regard. Meanwhile, Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna submitted a request to revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda to bring amendments to the Revenue Bill. Ponnanna, who met the minister at Vikas Soudha, submitted a request to bring amendments to some bills of the revenue department. He drew attention to the need for amendments to resolve the problem of revenue assessment for the Jammabane of Kodagu, the problem of the landlords, and the problem of P Numbers in the land title deeds. Responding to this, Byre Gowda assured that the necessary amendments would be brought in the upcoming monsoon session, Ponnanna said.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bus services to Christ Colony in Kedamullur resume after 5 years
Madikeri: The KSRTC bus services to Christ Colony in Kedamullur, which were stopped during Covid time five years ago, have now resumed. This brought joy, leading to celebrations in the village. As the bus arrived at Christ Colony, the residents offered puja to the bus and distributed sweets among the villagers. The bus departs from Madikeri at 7am. This bus service was stopped during Covid. After that, despite repeated requests to the officials concerned, it was of no use, which caused problems for those going to schools, colleges, and work in the urban areas. The panchayat members of Kedamullur and the villagers had raised the bus problem with MLA Ponnanna. Responding immediately, MLA Ponnanna discussed with Madikeri KSRTC manager Lingayya, depot manager Shanthakumar, and officer M Mahbub Ali and informed them about the resumption of bus services. Accordingly, the bus services were resumed, which was flagged off by the MLA. Village leader and gram panchayat member Maletira Prashanth Uthappa said that the residents here had a lot of problems without bus services. Although they took up the problem many times, it was of no use. Now, with the special efforts of the MLA, bus services have started, benefiting the villagers.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kutta-Tholpetty highway to improve connectivity to Kerala
Madikeri: The Kutta-Tholpetty interstate highway, which will connect to Kerala through the densely populated South Kodagu region, will be developed for Rs 3.4 crore, said Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna. He told reporters that the existing road, which is in a bad shape, will be completely dug up and a new road will be laid. He mentioned that the two bridges on the road will also be widened. "The officials will also widen the road leading to the Kannur International Airport on the Makutta route to Kerala in the coming days. Currently, hundreds of transport buses and private vehicles are relying on the Kutta-Tolapetty route due to the night ban on the movement of vehicles at Bandipur Tiger Reserve," he said. The work will start as soon as the rainy season is over, the MLA stated. The public in the surroundings of Kutta village in Kodagu district are depending on Mananthavady Hospital for better facilities, and Wayanad district in Kerala has become a hub for the trade of coffee and pepper. Coffee exporters are mostly following this route to take Kodagu coffee to Kochi. Coffee is also traditionally grown in the Wayanad district, and many vehicles ply there daily, he pointed out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Many tourists from Kodagu take the Kutta-Tholpetty road to visit temples such as Mahavishnu Temple in Thirunelli and Sabarimala. Ponnanna informed that the demand for a multi-purpose road will be met, and a well-maintained road will be constructed.
