The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged that several election observers had indulged in abuse of norms related to free and fair polling for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike by “going incommunicado” at the behest of the ruling Congress.
The BJP alleged that that it had become impossible for any aggrieved persons and parties to file complaints regarding election malpractices as the observers, who are the authorities for dealing with such complaints, had switched off their mobile phones and become inaccessible to people.
The party took up the issue with the State Election Commission (SEC) by filing a petition before it. In the petition, the BJP appealed to the Commission to take disciplinary action against such observers.
In the petition, the BJP named 14 observers including a senior IAS officer and several KAS officers of dereliction of duty.
In another petition before the SEC, the BJP alleged that goondas were preventing residents of apartments and nearby localities from casting their vote at three polling stations at AECS Dental College in Kammanahalli of Ward No. 192.
The local Hulimavu police were not receiving the calls made by the residents and had desisted from acting against goondas, the petition alleged.
