New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday rubbished reports of a ‘surprise alliance’ in Karnataka, where the saffron party members reportedly backed the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in the Panchayat elections. Reports said that SDPI member became the president of Talapady gram panchayat, on the backing of three members belonging to the saffron party. Remember, the SDPI is the political wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI), a recently banned radical outfit whose operations came under probe over alleged involvement in radicalization of youth and fanning of communal divide. As the two parties/outfits don’t see each other eye to eye, the ‘surprise alliance’ between the duo came as big shocker for everyone. BJP rejects tie-up reports Reacting on the reports, Karnataka BJP leader Tejasvi Surya dismissed it outrightly and called it ‘fake news’. He informed that Panchayats don’t take place on party lines and hence question of support to SDPI candidates doesn’t arise. This is fake news. Elections to Panchayats don’t take place on party lines. BJP has not supported SDPI or any other party in these elections. Media is advised to verify facts before publishing such news. https://t.co/er6CFqCyTU — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) August 11, 2023 BJP’s social media in-charge Amit Malviya also took to Twitter to label the report as ‘fake news’. He also informed that there are no party symbols in Panchayat elections and hence reports of ‘surprise alliance’ between BJP & SDPI doesn’t arise. This is #FakeNews. To start with, there are no party symbols in Panchayat in Karnataka. So how can there be any alliance? Besides there is no question of supporting the SDPI. Period. https://t.co/gr8Y7J89qk — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 11, 2023 How SDPI candidate became Gram Panchayat President? T Ismail, a SDPI member recently became the President of Talapady Gram Panchayat in Karnataka and local reports attributed to his backing by 3 members, affiliated with the saffron party. Ismail’s election on the post also came as a surprise as he and BJP member Satyaraj, both got the equal number of votes. Out of gram panchayat’s 24 seats, SDPI bagged 10 seats while BJP & Congress won 13 & 1 seat each. BJP member was to lay claim over President post but 2 of saffron members jumped ship and cross-voted for SDPI candidate. This resulted in a tie-breaker. Later, Ismail was judged the winner. Therefore, an election which could have a seamless victory for the BJP turned into an embarrassment for the party.
