'Congress leaders violating poll code by misusing powers'

Union minister lodges complaint against Cong with Deputy Commissioner

 Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar has accused the Congress leaders of poll code violation by misusing powers and official machinery.

The Union minister, on Saturday, lodged a complaint with District Election Officer D Randeep stating that the police personnel deputed on bypoll duty for Nanjangud Assembly constituency are unnecessarily troubling the BJP workers.

Ananth Kumar said, though the party workers had sought permission to hold election campaign, the police were not allowing them to organise public meetings at their preferred places. But, the authorities are allowing Congress party workers to utilise government property for poll campaign, he alleged.

He said, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is using more than 50 vehicles during the campaign but no authority is questioning it. Ananth Kumar alleged that the police attacked BJP workers when they were campaigning at Hura and Hulahalli.

Ananth Kumar also alleged that the police personnel, who were deputed at check-posts were not inspecting the vehicles belonging to the Congress leaders. He said, the authorities did not check the vehicle in which Congress leader C M Ibrahim was travelling. But, they stopped his vehicle for checking.

Deputy Commissioner D Randeep has assured him of addressing the issue in question.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa too alleged that the Congress leaders were misusing the power. Congress workers are trying to influence the voters in rural pockets by providing liquor to them, he alleged.

MP Shobha Karandlaje submitted a memorandum to Election Officer for Nanjangud Assembly (Reserve) constituency G Jagadeesha to depute additional Central Paramilitary force to check the irregularities.

She alleged that Congress leaders distributed liquor to voters at Kumbarahalli in the taluk on Friday.

As the Election Commission has deputed local officials, Congress leaders were not allowing them to discharge their duties freely and fairly, she alleged.

Cong leaders’ cars stopped for checking

Police deputed on by-election duty for Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly segments inspected vehicles of Congress party leaders including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G Parameshwara and KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao when they were on their way to campaign for the party candidates on Saturday, reports DHNS from Mysuru/Chamarajanagar.

The police also took vehicles belonging to Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra into custody at Gundlupet as he had not obtained prior permission from the Election Commission (EC) to use the vehicle.

While Chamarajanagar Police inspected Siddaramaiah’s vehicle at Hirikati check post near Chamarajanagar when he was travelling to Gundlupet, Dr Parameshwara’s car was stopped near Nanjangud.

Police later stated that the leaders had obtained permission to use the vehicles and were also following guidelines issued by the EC.