Ms Karat told reporters here that the NDA during its rule lifted the ban on future trading in agricultural commodities and reduced the stocks of food grains by exporting it at a very low price.

“These are the two core reasons for the present price rise of essential commodities. The BJP, which led the NDA regime, now remains silent on the issue,”  she alleged.

The CPM had written to the Election Commission complaining about the functioning of the officials who were on election duty in Mysore and Kodagu districts.

According to her, the Deputy Commissioner of Mysore asked CPI (M) workers not to bring out pamphlets with a call to defeat BJP, on the ground that it had not fielded its candidate there.

“The EC should immediately issue necessary instructions to the officials to refrain from interfering with the right of the party to carry on campaigning in the State,” Brinda Karat  said.