Karnataka: Restore Vijayapura mayoral elections, BJP urges poll panel

A delegation of BJP leaders, comprising MLCs N Ravikumar and S Keshavaprasad, has petitioned the State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi questioning the “abrupt” postponement of mayoral polls in the Vijayapura City Municipal Corporation (VCMC) by the Belagavi Regional Commissioner S B Shettennavar. 

Ravikumar also demanded that the Election Commission intervene and restore the VCMC elections and not fall into the trap of the regional commissioner’s explanation.

He also demanded stringent action against the regional commissioner as well as the District In-charge and Industries Minister M B Patil. 

After submitting the petition, Ravikumar and Prasad told reporters that the BJP secured 24 votes while the Congress received 22 votes in the VCMC mayoral polls on Monday. 

“Realising that the Congress was losing and under pressure from Patil, Shettannavar who was returning officer of the polls, abruptly announced the postponement of elections. This is nothing but subverting the mandate through pressure tactics,” Ravikumar alleged.

Prasad charged that as soon as Patil realised that the Congress was losing the polls he raised objections blaming the returning officer for not conducting elections properly and failing to adhere to rules. “These objections were not valid. Nevertheless, Shettannavar announced the postponement of polls,” he said.

They said that the delegation has explained in detail to the State Election Commissioner about how injustice was meted out to the BJP.