The Hindu : Karnataka News : Saifulla accuses poll officials of bungling

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Thursday, May 01, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Saifulla accuses poll officials of bungling

Staff Correspondent

DAVANGERE: Congress leader Syed Saifulla, who lost the opportunity to contest the elections from Davangere North constituency, although the party had given him the “B” form, has urged the Election Commission to cancel the election process for the seat and announce a fresh calendar of events. He alleged that election officials had committed serious mistakes.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Saifulla, who made changes in his “B” form in favour of his party colleague S.S. Mallikarjun, said he was pressured by some party workers while filing his papers.

He questioned the Returning Officer as to how he had allowed so many persons inside his chamber when the Election Commission had strictly restricted the entry to five persons, in addition to the candidate.

He said the Returning Officer was directly responsible for the fiasco on Tuesday, and added that he was confused whether to contest or not. “Owing to the confusion,

I committed the mistake of erasing my name and including Mr. Mallikarjun’s,” he added. He said Mr. Mallikarjun had thereby lost the opportunity of contesting the elections.

Mr. Saifulla said he would write to the Election Commission seeking another opportunity to contest the polls. He said Prithviraj Chavan, had asked him to submit the form according to the instructions of the party.

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