Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha on Wednesday said he would not order the removal of photographs of Jnanpith Award winner U.R. Ananathamurthy in schools.
Mr. Jha told presspersons here that he knew that some television channels had a discussion on whether photographs of the writer in schools should be allowed during the elections as it might influence voters. He, however, said his office had taken note of a complaint that the writer was campaigning for the Congress, and it would be looked into.
On the Congress’ reported allegation that Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from Chickballapur Lok Sabha constituency H.D. Kumaraswamy had not furnished information about the wealth of his wife Radhika Kumaraswamy and therefore he be disqualified, Mr. Jha said he did not have powers to do so.
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When his attention was drawn to allegations that CCTV cameras were directed at the houses of some candidates, Mr. Jha said it was unintentional. He said CCTV cameras had been installed in 40 places and distilleries to watch expenditure. Fifty companies of Central forces had been deputed for the purpose, he added.
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In the last two days, squads had seized Rs. 2.03 crore in cash in Bangalore, Ramanagaram, Nelamangala, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Doddaballapur and Bellary, taking the total so far to Rs. 7.76 crore.
Mr. Jha said household items such as saris, silver articles and rice worth Rs. 19.12 lakh were seized in Athani, Gauribidanur and Kudligi, and 2,183 litres of liquor were seized in Davangere, Gadag and Gulbarga.
Twenty-five persons had been arrested and 1,079 cases of poll code violations had been looked into so far.