In the era of social media dominance, traditional mainstream media has increasingly gravitated towards sensationalizing news stories. The pursuit of captivating headlines often takes precedence over the substance of the content, resulting in a proliferation of media crews and charismatic anchors whenever a sensational event unfolds. The recent case of Seema Haider serves as a stark illustration of this sensationalist trend. However, shifting our focus to the present moment, a notable development has emerged in the state of Karnataka – the local panchayat elections. The media coverage surrounding this event provides ample insight into the evolving landscape of news reporting.
A Story published by The Times Now highlights a concerning situation wherein local leaders affiliated with the BJP have allegedly cast their votes in favour of the SDPI party. The SDPI party is purportedly perceived as being associated with the political faction of the PFI. The Times now reported, “BJP workers have backed the SDPI in the gram panchayat elections in Karnataka. The SDPI is considered the political wing of the PFI.”
The narrative presented in the Times Now article has gained traction through endorsements from fact-checkers specializing in Jihadist-related matters, as well as journalists inclined towards leftist perspectives. Furthermore, individuals affiliated with the Congress party in their capacity as spokespersons, along with members associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, have also contributed to amplifying this story. For the sake of preservation, an archived link has been provided to ensure accessibility should any retractions or alterations to the statements occur. (archive link of Zubair, left-inclined journalist Ranvijay Singh, Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and AAP leader Devendra Yadav)
The current inquiry revolves around the alignment of the Bharatiya Janata Party, a true patriotic political entity, with a party that is perceived as having anti-national inclinations. This prompts a deeper exploration into the nature of this affiliation, urging a comprehensive investigation to uncover the underlying intricacies of the situation.
Also Read: No, Annamalai was not Advocating Gun Violence, his speech has been shared out of context
Fact Check
Commencing our investigative journey, we embarked on a quest to holistically comprehend the entirety of the news. Given the contemporary trend of mainstream media prioritizing sensationalism for enhanced viewership metrics, we opted to collaborate with regional media outlets for a more comprehensive perspective. It was through the insightful coverage by local media source Madhyamam that we were guided towards the authentic narrative beneath the surface.
According to Madhyamam, “Nawaz Ullal, who is in charge of SDPI’s people’s representatives in Karnataka, said he believes Ismail got the support of bjp’s Fayaz and Muhammed members in the secret elections. Meanwhile, the party’s Karnataka state secretary Abdul Latheef Puthoor told the media that the SDPI had not sought the bjp’s support in the Thalappady panchayat presidential election.”
Our investigative efforts led us to focus our attention on Times Now, given that it was the original story from Times Now that ignited the entire controversy. According to Times Now, “out of Talapady’s 24 seats, BJP, SDPI and Congress got 13,10 and 1 seats respectively. However, the Congressman and a member of the SDPI gave the President polls a skip. This further increased Satyaraj’s numerical advantage. However, two of his party colleagues cross-voted, taking the election to a tiebreaker. Later, lots were drawn to elect a winner and luck favoured Ismail.”
Hence, individuals possessing a fundamental understanding of political dynamics can readily grasp the notion that alliances are typically forged with the intention of securing electoral victories rather than being defeated by erstwhile adversaries. In this context, the BJP’s defeat at the hands of the SDPI dispels any notion of a potential coalition. Instead, the circumstances more aptly align with an instance of betrayal.
Furthermore, Amit Malviya, the head of BJP’s social media division, along with Tejasvi Surya, a sitting Member of Parliament hailing from Karnataka, has categorically and emphatically disavowed any connection to the organization perceived as having anti-national affiliations. Simultaneously, the state secretary of the SDPI has also refuted any links with the BJP. Collectively, these assertions decisively underscore the conclusion that the Bharatiya Janata Party maintains no ties or collaborations with the SDPI.
However, dedicated to the pursuit of unearthing the truth in its entirety, we have diligently unearthed two news articles (here and here) that cast illumination on the subject. These articles underscore the intervention of the Karnataka State Election Commission, which has unequivocally directed participants in the panchayat elections to abstain from incorporating party designations or symbols in their promotional endeavours. Additionally, there is a documented instance wherein the state election commission took legal measures against panchayat contenders within Karnataka who employed party identities and symbols. It is pertinent to note that these revelations align precisely with the content shared in a tweet by Amit Malviya.
In the context of the panchayat election held in Karnataka, a scenario unfolded where a candidate adhering to the ideological tenets of the BJP, and quite likely identifying as a Hindu, encountered a situation of betrayal. This occurred when two individuals of the Muslim faith, Fayaz and Muhammed, who ostensibly pledged their support to the Hindu candidate, opted to redirect their efforts. Regrettably, they extended their assistance to fellow Muslims affiliated with the SDPI, consequently facilitating their triumph over the aforementioned Hindu contender.
Hence, the news that gained substantial traction across social media platforms, propagating a preposterous assertion of a BJP alliance or affiliation with the SDPI, is profoundly deceptive in nature.
Update as of 12/08/2023: BJP has suspended Fayaz and Muhammad for cross-voting in favour of SDPI as per the report of Daiji World.
| Claim | BJP formed an Alliance with SDPI (The political wing of the banned radical organization PFI) |
| Claimed By: | Times Now, Mohammad Zubair, Supriya Shrinate and others |
| Fact-Check | Misleading |
The goal of the Only Fact Team is to provide authentic news facts and debunk lies to safeguard readers’ interests.
Dear Readers, We are working to debunk fake news, which is against India. We don’t have corporate funding like others. Your small support will help us grow further.
If you like our work, support us and donate to us using the Livix Media Foundation QR code.
Jai Hind!
