Code violation complaints against BJP

The JD(S) on Tuesday filed three separate complaints with the Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging that the BJP and its leaders were indulging in illegal practices to woo voters.

The complaints were filed before the Chief Electoral Officer by JD(S) spokesperson Ramesh Babu. In the first complaint, the JD(S) alleged that BJP was wooing voters in the name of religion. The complaint said that top leaders of the party, including Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and party State president Pralhad Joshi visited Chamundeshwari temple in Mysore and appealed to people to vote for the party. This was gross violation of the code of conduct as it amounted to wooing voters in the name of religion, the complaint stated.

In another complaint, the JD(S) alleged that the BJP was misusing government machinery by placing advertisements on welfare schemes in the electronic media, which again was in violation of the model code of conduct.

In its third complaint, the JD(S) charged Joshi with making a defamatory speech in Dharwad on Monday. The JD(S) has urged the ECI to file a contempt of court petition against Joshi in the High Court of Karnataka.