Bengaluru, 17 May

The JD(S) has requested its ally, the BJP, to make changes in certain provisions of the proposed 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill linked to the ONOE proposal, particularly the special powers proposed to be given to the ECI to recommend postponing elections in any state.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee held discussions with political parties in Bengaluru on Saturday regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill connected to ‘One Nation-One Election’ (ONOE) and sought their suggestions.

The JD(S) said suitable amendments had been proposed to the provisions empowering the Election Commission of India to recommend to the President the deferment of state elections, while also seeking legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments and protection for regional parties during simultaneous elections.

“With regard to the Bill, the JD(S) extended support to the Constitutional amendment with certain conditions and amendments, while suggesting safeguards to ensure that regional parties are not adversely affected by the aggressive election campaigns of national parties during simultaneous elections,” the statement said.

The party stated that coalition governments have been formed and functioning at both the state and national levels for several decades, and “there is a need for legal protection to ensure their stability”.

“Therefore, it also suggested incorporating legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments in the proposed Constitutional amendment,” the party, headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, stated.

The proposed Constitutional amendment grants special powers to the ECI to recommend to the President the postponement of elections in any state

According to the statement, the JD(S) delegation was led by M Mallesh Babu and included former MP D Kupendra Reddy, former Assembly deputy speaker M Krishna Reddy, former minister Venkatrao Nadagouda, MLA TN Javarayi Gowda, former MLA KA Tippeswamy and party legal cell president AP Ranganath.

GTF skips Chamundeshwari rally

Days after he met former PM HD Deve Gowda and said he will contest the assembly polls in 2028 from JD(S), disgruntled Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda on Sunday skipped the party workers' rally in the Chamundeshwari segment.

GT Devegowda, who is miffed with party leaders, continues to maintain distance from party activities and did not attend the Janarondige Janata Dal meet of Chamundeshwari assembly segment held at Bogadi in Mysuru, even though Union Minister and the party’s state unit chief HD Kumaraswamy did. Kumaraswamy’s son, Nikhil and former minister Sa Ra Mahesh also took part.

During the meeting, Kumaraswamy refrained from talking about GTD, unlike earlier, when he had stated that he would groom another leader to contest the polls from the segment.

Instead, he continued his tirade against the State Congress government. Kumaraswamy slammed Siddaramaiah for criticising the Centre for the fuel price hike, even though the entire world knew the increase was due to the West Asia conflict.

“What would Congress do if they were in power now?” he questioned, noting that a litre of petrol costs Rs 245 in cities like Singapore.