Complaints aplenty before SEC

BJP candidate from Nagapura (ward no 67) S Harish in his complaint to the SEC has alleged that his Congress rival N L Ravishankar had registered fake voters in the electoral list. Harish charged that voters had been registered from a single house, that of Ravishankar, when in reality there were only eight occupants in the premises.

Besides, some of the relatives of Ravishankar names existing both in their native Nelamangala taluk electoral list and also in Nagapura ward. Transport Minister R Ashok submitted the complaint to State Election Commissioner C R Chikkamath.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has taken objection to the press conference held by the BJP top brass including Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to put forth the party’s poll promises in Bangalore on Friday.

In a complaint to the SEC, KPCC President R V Deshpande said holding the press conference amounted to violation of model code of conduct as public campaigning including through the media concluded at 7 am on Friday.

Deshpande also alleged that BJP workers were threatening minorities to stay away from polling stations on election or face dire consequences.

Parties in soup over ads

The advertisement flashed in the evening dailies on Friday has landed the two major political parties the BJP and the Congress in soup.

Apparently on a direction from the State Election Commission, the District Election Officers have taken up the matter to initiate disciplinary action against those who placed advertisements in the newspapers.

Ignoring this instruction, both the major parties flashed advertisements in the evening dailies.

Cash flow unlimited

People in several areas found a great way to make a quick buck by canvassing for political parties. The same group turned out to canvass for different parties in the same area! While Rs 200 a day for people canvassing was standard fare, people in some areas kept changing parties each day, as parties kept offering a little extra for moving over to their side.

A resident of Chikkalsandra ward, explained that he was canvassing for the third party, the third day in a row, as “we were only offered money and not food by the other parties.” Another resident, said: “We will vote for whom we want, but what is the harm in making a little money ?”

Despite SEC keeping a strict watch over candidates’ sops to voters, mainstream parties managed to get away with giving sarees, rice and oil to voters in several areas. Women complained that they could not get enough supplies on their BPL card, but it was being distributed indiscriminately during elections.