Manju lodges complaint against polling booth officials

Closing the booth is against the spirit of democracy

Arkalgud MLA and Congress candidate in the recently held Lok Sabha polls A Manju lodged a complaint, with the Deputy Commissioner, against Paduvalahippe booth official, for remaining a mute spectator to Holenarsipur MLA H D Revanna’s high-handedness against media persons, when former prime minister H D Deve Gowda was casting his vote.

Earlier, addressing a press conference, here, on Saturday, Manju said, Revanna forced out all media persons, who were present while Deve Gowda came to the poll booth to cast his vote, at Paduvalahippe, last Thursday. “He also shut all windows of the booth, so that media persons could not have a view of Deve Gowda exercising his franchise. This is against the spirit of democracy,” he said.

Manju alleged that the JD(S) and the BJP had entered into a secret pact in Mysore-Kodagu and Hassan Lok Sabha constituencies.

“The BJP fielded a person from Hassan in Mysore and vice-versa. The JD(S) supported the BJP candidate in Mysore. However, the BJP supporters have not voted for the JD(S) in Hassan. So, the JD(S) will be at loss,” he said.

“The polls have been conducted in a fair and transparent way in Hassan. So, the JD(S) could not involve in its regular malpractice. Hence, it will help the Congress. The voting has increased by four per cent, compared to the last Lok Sabha election. Almost three per cent of the electorate is first-time voters, who do not approve of the authoritarian ways of the Deve Gowda clan. So, we are hopeful of a victory,” Manju said.

However, even if he does not win the election, he would make all efforts to fulfill his promises during electioneering. Steps will be taken to establish a Potato Research Centre and to construct a flyover across the New Bus Stand Road at Hassan, he said.

Former Rajya Sabha member H K Javaregowda, ex-legislator S M Anand and others were present at the press conference.