Bangalore: Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda has said that the Election Commission is adopting what he termed double standards and is under pressure from the United Progressive Alliance and the Congress in particular.

The former Prime Minister was reacting to the notice issued by the Election Commission to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reprimanding him for violating the model code of conduct in place for the Chamundeshwari byelection. "For a welfare scheme launched in 1978 for which budgetary allocations have been made year after year, the commission has reprimanded the Chief Minister on the charge that he announced it recently," said Mr. Deve Gowda at a press conference here on Thursday.

`Emergency mindset'

He said, "It is the Emergency mindset of the Congress party and its chief that is responsible for the erosion in constitutional bodies like the Election Commission. I am disturbed over certain developments in the recent past that cast an ominous shadow on the credibility and impartiality of this great institution. Are we heading for another round of Emergency in the country? Byelections to Assembly and Lok Sabha seats are due in 14 States on December 4, and only Chamundeshwari has been picked for selective action."

He said the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other Left parties had complained against the Election Commission during the Assembly elections in West Bengal where they were locked in a contest with the Congress and its allies. Thereafter the Bharatiya Janata Party protested against the induction of Navin Chawla as an election commissioner on the ground that he had close links with the Congress from the days of the Emergency. "Now the Election Commission, in respect of the Chamundeshwari byelection, has been functioning in a cavalier manner, and its prejudiced approach became evident even before the election process was set in motion."

"It should be remembered that development is an ongoing process and the possibility of an election cannot be reason enough for all developmental activities to be brought to a halt," he said.

`Different yardsticks'

He accused the Election Commission of applying different yardsticks for the party in power at the Centre and the one in Karnataka.

"Going by the Election Commission's skewed logic, the reduction in petroleum prices by the Congress-led Union Government on Wednesday, ahead of the Chamundeshwari byelection, too is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct and is aimed at influencing the voters of the constituency. I wish to know what action the Election Commission proposes to take against the Congress in this regard."

`Retain impartiality'

Mr. Deve Gowda said the Election Commission is held in high esteem by the people and political parties for its impartiality and objectivity. This constitutional body should not be perceived as becoming an instrument of vendetta in the hands of the powers that be at the Centre. It should retain its impartiality and independence if democracy is to survive in the country, he said.

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