The Hindu : Karnataka News : `No explanation given to Sonia on electoral defeats'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

`No explanation given to Sonia on electoral defeats'

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, on Wednesday denied that he has written to the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi, explaining the reasons for the defeat of the party candidates in the Shimoga Lok Sabha and Chamarajpet Assembly byelections.

Speaking to presspersons, he maintained that he was successful in reducing the margin of victory of the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa in the Shimoga Lok Sabha byelection from 76,000 votes to 16,000 votes, and by doing so, he has strengthened the Congress. He said he will meet Ms. Gandhi during his visit to New Delhi on Sunday. He did not say whether he will explain to her the reasons for the defeat of the party candidates.

`An achievement'

Mr. Dharam Singh said that in four Assembly segments of the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat, the Congress obtained more votes and the party took the election to a photo-finish, which is an achievement. The party, he noted, wrested the Bidar Lok Sabha seat from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which held it for five terms.

The Congress, he said, has won the agricultural produce market committee elections, and many supporters of the Congress have won in the gram panchayat elections, which showed that the party is as strong as ever.

On the difficulty faced by students from the State in securing seats in private medical colleges following the 50:50 seat-sharing formula arrived at between college managements and the Government, the Chief Minister said they will get seats without difficulty as five new colleges are being opened.

A joint memorandum will be filed before the vacation judge of the Supreme Court on the understanding reached between colleges and the Government.

Website launched

Mr. Dharam Singh sought the guidance of journalists in administration. Inaugurating the programmes drawn up by the Karnataka Media Academy and its website, he said it is the responsibility of the media to focus its attention on the people's aspirations.

Ministers work honestly and efficiently for the good of the people, he added.

More funds

He assured the academy president, V.N. Subba Rao, that the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramiah, and he will consider the request for increasing the funds for its activities.

Mr. Siddaramiah released a book containing the papers presented by journalists and speakers at a recent seminar organised by the academy. Mr. Rao said a digital library will be established in the academy, and an audio-visual on 100 noted journalists brought out.

July 1 will be observed as "Press Day" with a conference of editors and publishers of district newspapers.

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