Keep an eye on BJP in K’tka polls: Oppn asks EC

Congress and JDS in Karnataka voiced fears to the Election Commission that the ruling BJP might misuse official machinery during Lok Sabha polls.

Congress and JDS in Karnataka voiced fears to the Election Commission that the ruling BJP might misuse official machinery in next month’s Lok Sabha polls and asked it to keep strict vigil to check malpractices.

Representatives of the JDS and Congress called on Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami here and referred to the recent communal flare-up in parts of coastal region,”moral policing” and alleged attempts by the ruling party to include large number of bogus voters in electoral rolls in Bellary.

The JDS demanded action against a “political party”,apparently referring to BJP,for extending moral support to Hindu Samajotsava,organised by Hindu outfits and said it should be given a stern warning.

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Congress leader M P Prakash claimed that in some constituencies like Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district,names of minority community voters have been deleted.

“Bellary should be considered a sensitive constituency and all steps taken to ensure fair poll process,” Prakash and JDS spokesman Y S V Datta told Gopalaswami.

Datta wanted the CEC to order transfer of the Bellary District Deputy Commissioner,accusing him of colluding with some ruling party members,including owners of a mining company,indirectly targeting Ministers- G Karaunakara Reddy,G Janardhana Reddy and B Sriramulu.

Sriramulu’s sister J Shanti is contesting the Bellary (ST) Lok Sabha seat and electoral authorities recently detected attempts to enroll bogus voters,over which ten probe teams have been formed.

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BJP’s representative C T Ravi pleaded with the EC to permit government to implement welfare schemes like granting Rs 1,000 subsidy for farmers to purchase agricultural inputs as they were part of on-going programmes.

He also urged the Election Commission to permit the government to resume distribution of bicycles to students as they are not voters.

The EC has ordered suspension of the programme on the ground that it is violative of the model code of conduct. A BSP delegation too urged the Chief Election Commissioner to take steps to check money power and distribution of liquor in the elections.

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