Siddaramaiah retains his govt bungalow, as govt caves in to demands

In the tussle for a home of choice, Leader of Opposition of the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah has apparently won against the BJP government in the state. Earlier this week,  the government finally accepted Siddaramaiah's demands. Sources report that Siddaramaiah had asked for the bungalow to be allotted to him in which he has been living for the past six years. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was slated to move into that bungalow, as per sources.

Here is the official government order:

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Siddaramaiah on EVMs

Earlier on Tuesday, as exit polls forecasted a facile victory for the BJP in Maharashtra and Haryana and a rout for its rivals, led by the Congress, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed suspicion about the credibility of the Electronic Voting Machines.  

Speaking to reporters at Hubballi, the senior Congress leader said he had travelled via road from Solapur to Hyderabad when he had gone to Maharashtra for campaigning and the road condition there was "pathetic", despite Nitin Gadkari, who is Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, hailing from the state. There has no been development there in five years, he alleged. " ... don't know how people are voting them. I don't know," Siddaramaiah said. 

He added, "I dont know why (BJP is winning), they are misusing EVMs-is what I feel...Election Commission of India is under them and functions according to their instructions, like CBI and ED are being misused." Pitching for the ballot paper process, he claimed several developed countries have gone back to this system. "When people have expressed suspicion, why you (BJP) want EVM? EC has to take a decision when all parties have expressed doubts", he said.

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Battle in Maharashtra

Interestingly, the results for both poll-bound states, the BJP's battle to win a second term was tough. While in Maharashtra the saffron alliance swept Maharashtra winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56), the comeback of the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) took the Mahayuti by surprise as the NCP bagged 54 seats. The languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats.

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Battle in Haryana

In Haryana, the final results of the Haryana Assembly Elections saw the saffron party not reaching the elusive Halfway mark, winning only 40 seats. While BJP has announced that it will form the next government in the state, CM Manohar Lal Khattar has allied with JJP and Independents, according to sources. Meanwhile, Congress has made a comeback winning 31 seats and the 'kingmaker' JJP has won 10 seats, while others account to 9 seats in the 90-seat assembly. This hung assembly has necessitated BJP to ally with someone.

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