Congress 'bought' votes in Council polls, claims BJP

The State BJP on Monday charged the ruling Congress with misusing the official machinery and money power to win the recently concluded elections to the Legislative Council from local bodies constituencies.

Addressing reporters after attending a meeting of senior party leaders convened to introspect on party's poor performance in the elections, BJP spokesperson C T Ravi said the Congress bought votes paying huge sum. The BJP, on its part, lacked adequate resources. As a result, the Congress managed to win 13 of the 25 seats, he added.

Many of the leaders who attended the meeting felt that the party senior leaders should have focused more on their respective districts during the campaign, instead of touring the State. It was decided in the meeting to make  elaborate preparation for the coming elections to taluk and zilla panchayats, Ravi said.

The leaders have decided to come out with a separate manifesto for every district in the coming panchayat elections.

“We will take the panchayat elections very seriously. We will start the preparation well in advance. A plan will be drawn up for the State leaders to tour the State and drum up support for the party, he added.

Former chief ministers, B S Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar and D V Sadananda Gowda and Opposition leader in the Council K S Eshwarappa were among the senior leaders attended the meeting.