The BJP has accused the Congress of distributing money and liquor to lure voters of Gundlupet and Nanjangud and has alleged that the administrative machinery was being misused.
Addressing presspersons at Nanjangud on Sunday, Shobha Karandlaje, MP, alleged that despite such electoral malpractices, the police and the election observers have remained a mute witness to it and were refusing to take any action. Ms. Karandlaje said she has already submitted a complaint to Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who is also the District Election Officer.
She levelled allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and said that with elections hardly a week away, the Congress rank and file, along with the party leadership, was indulging in electoral malpractices and activities inimical to democracy. “The police has become a puppet in the hands of the CM and are content carrying out his commands and are even ignoring the directions of the DC,” she said.
“We had reposed faith in the DC and had hoped for improvement in the situation ... but our hopes have been belied by the Congress and the administrative authorities,” she added.
Ms. Karandlaje claimed that the Election Commission had permitted campaigning till 10 p.m., but the State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa was prevented from addressing a gathering at 9.45 p.m. at Madapura village on Saturday.
“The district administration and the police did not swing into action when the BJP activists and party workers reported that the Congress supporters were distributing money in a choultry on Saturday night,” Ms. Karandlaje said. “The entire police machinery has been geared up to carry out the commands of the CM and the Home Minister,” she said. Senior BJP leaders, including the former Minister, Murugesh Nirani, were present.
CM rubbishes allegations
Mr. Siddaramiah has lashed out at the BJP and said in Nanjangud that they were past masters in electoral malpractices. “If any one deserves a doctorate in electoral malpractices, it is Mr. Yeddyurappa,” he said.
He rubbished allegations that the party was indulging in electoral malpractices or luring voters with money and said that is the BJP game plan. “The allegations that the police were working at my behest is baseless as even my vehicles were searched,” he said.
He said the allegations are born out of desperation as it is has dawned on them that their defeat is certain. “The BJP leaders came to Nanjangud and Gundlupet creating a commotion that both the constituencies were in their pockets. Now they have realised that defeat is certain ... and hence they are levelling such allegations,” he said.
