Bangalore, April 08: The Congress has urged the Election Commission to deploy more forces and poll observers in three Assembly segments that go to polls on April 9 to check ruling BJP’s alleged use of money and muscle power to win votes.
KPCC president G Parameshwar and a few Congress leaders met Chief Electoral Officer C S Suranjan on Thursday and lodged a complaint, accusing BJP of enticing voters with money, goodies and donations to temples besides announcing various development projects keeping an eye on votes.
To substantiate his charges, Parameshwar submitted the copies of the government orders sanctioning fund to temples in Jagalur constituency and demanded strict action against BJP leaders.
Also, Parameshwar accused the BJP of circulating a letter signed by its Channapatna candidate, C P Yogeshwar, in which 6,000 Ashraya houses were promised to the people of the constituency. “How can they [BJP] make such promises when the poll code is in place,” Parameshwar asked.
Upon receiving complaint, Suranjan said the EC had already taken note of the government order to release funds to temple and had sent a report to the Central Election Commission. “We will do whatever is necessary to stop electoral malpractices,” he said.
Later, Parameshwar told presspersons that the BJP leaders were blatantly misusing power to win elections. The release of huge funds for temples in poll-bound constituencies was only an example, he said.
Further, he said the Congress would stage a dharna in front of the EC office if the latter did not act on its complaint. He also accused the EC of turning a blind eye to BJP’s malpractices. “We want EC to act swiftly and stop BJP from indulging in electoral malpractices. Otherwise there is no point in holding elections,” he said.
—–Expressnews