BJP accused of using unfair means to win Council polls

S.P. Dinesh, Congress nominee for the recently-held election for Legislative Council from South-West Graduates’ constituency has accused the BJP of winning the election through money power and spreading false rumours against him.

Ayanur Manjunath of BJP won the election by a margin of 9,498 votes against Mr. Dinesh. While 22,600 votes were polled in favour of Mr. Manjunath, Mr. Dinesh managed to get 13,102 votes.

At a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Dinesh alleged that apart from distribution of cash, Mr. Manjunath had also offered gifts to voters and hosted dinner parties for them in a clandestine manner. He alleged that Mr. Manjunath had also spread rumours that he had entered into secret pact with Bhoje Gowda, JD(S) nominee for South-West Teachers’ constituency and thereby created confusion among the voters.

Mr. Dinesh said he had commenced preparation for the election in 2017 itself and Congress activists had also put in hard work for enrolment of graduates in the constituency as voters. However, fearing defeat in the elections, the BJP resorted to negative tactics.

Secret pact with JD(S)

He alleged that it was Mr. Manjunath who had entered into secret pact with JD(S) nominee for Teachers’ constituency resulting in the defeat of Ganesh Karnik, the BJP nominee. As BJP in its manifesto had promised to solve problems faced by guest lecturers serving in government first grade colleges, Mr. Manjunath in Legislative Council should draw the attention of State Government on the demands from guest lecturers for regularisation of service and enhancement of remuneration, he said.

R. Prasanna Kumar, MLC; K.B. Prasanna Kumar, former MLA; and T.N. Srinivas, president of Shivamogga District Congress Committee were present at the conference.