A Special Court for People’s Representatives has directed the Hassan Lokayukta police to register an FIR against BJP leader and former Hassan MLA Preetham Gowda and conduct an investigation into allegations of possessing assets disproportionate to known sources of income. The development has created political attention in Hassan, with the allegations now subject to investigation and due legal process.
JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy expressed his displeasure over comments by former Hassan MLA Preetam J. Gowda regarding the BJP–JD(S) alliance. Speaking in Hassan district, Nikhil said there was support for the alliance among people dissatisfied with the Congress government and urged senior BJP and JD(S) leaders to address statements that could affect the alliance. The issue reflects the continuing political debate over the alliance’s strategy ahead of future elections.
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, newly inducted into Karnataka Cabinet, on Wednesday, visited parts of Hassan district to review the drought situation along with officers. It was his first official visit to the taluk after taking the oath as Minister. The Chief Minister designated him Minister in-charge of Hassan district.
JD(S) leaders and party workers staged a protest in Hassan over the recently announced Gram Panchayat ward reservation process. The protesters alleged that the reservation list was finalized under political pressure and questioned the fairness of the process. The protest comes amid a wider dispute between JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna and Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari. Revanna had alleged that the Gram Panchayat ward reservations were fixed under political pressure. The Deputy Commissioner rejected the allegation and clarified that, under the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, the power to issue the final reservation notification rests with the Deputy Commissioner.
Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari has strongly responded to recent remarks made by JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna regarding her appointment and functioning as the district’s Deputy Commissioner. Revanna had questioned her posting and raised concerns about the reservation process for the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections in Hassan district. Responding to the criticism, Latha Kumari said the remarks were inappropriate and unbecoming of a former minister. She stated that she earned her position through constitutional procedures, hard work and merit. She also said that such comments should not be used to mentally weaken government officers and firmly stated that she could not be weakened.
