Kharge indulging in malpractice: BJP

The state BJP on Monday accused Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge of misusing administrative machinery and indulging in malpractices to win the Gulbarga parliamentary seat.

BJP state general secretary N Ravi Kumar told reporters that Kharge had been bribing voters using police officers in the district. Bengaluru north DCP Shashikumar were among those involved in the electoral malpractice. The Congress leader along with his son-minister Priyank Kharge has been spending close to Rs 100 crore to win the election, he alleged.

"Kharge, who is also Congress leader in Lok Sabha, has won all elections in the past through match-fixing. The current election is the toughest for him. He is resorting to all kinds of malpractices as he has realised that he will lose the election" Ravi Kumar said. The BJP also filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India in this regard.

The BJP has promised to include Koli and Gonda communities in the ST list. It will be done within two months of coming to power at the Centre, he said.