The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Poojary accuses Janata Dal (S) of indulging in unlawful activities

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Sunday, Dec 03, 2006
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Poojary accuses Janata Dal (S) of indulging in unlawful activities

Special Correspondent

Former KPCC chief fears electoral malpracatices by the ruling combine

B. Janardhana Poojary

BANGALORE: Senior Congress leader and MP B. Janardhana Poojary on Saturday alleged that the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Minister for Forests C. Chennigappa had indulged in unlawful activities in the run up to the byelection to the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency and violated the model code of conduct.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Poojary alleged that with the fear of losing the election, the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders prevented Congress and Janata Dal (United) workers from campaigning in some villages in the constituency.

He alleged that the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders were likely to indulge in electoral malpractices by casting proxy votes. He urged the Election Commission to make arrangements to ensure a free and fair election.

He said that the Election Commission had registered 28 cases against the Congress and 17 against the Janata Dal (Secular). It had seized 68 vehicles of the Congress and 44 of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Though number of cases registered against the Congress was more, Mr. Deve Gowda had been complaining against the commission, he said.

Mr. Poojary alleged that Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj S. Horatti had convened a meeting of teachers, who were drafted for election duty, and influenced them to rig the election in favour of the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate.

The police who arrived at the spot, instead of taking action against the Minister and the Janata Dal (Secular) workers, caned the Congress workers, the former KPCC president said.

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