NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Saturday rejected the allegations levelled by Janata Dal (Secular) leaders that the poll observer for the byelection to the Chamundeswari Assembly seat, Raymond Peter, was acting in a partisan manner.

In a press note, the poll panel said it also condemned the "very loose utterances and derogatory words" used by some JD(S) leaders in the media to undermine the work of the observer. "Mr. Raymond Peter has worked without fear or favour and without bias to ensure a level playing field in the electoral process by reporting all violations of electoral laws and instructions of the commission".

The "hollowness" of the allegation of partisanship, it said, was apparent from the fact that cases of violation of the model code of conduct had been registered against all political parties.

Cases against all parties

Of the 115 cases registered, 54 were against the Congress, while only 42 were against JD(S), with the rest against other parties. Cases were filed against the Congress for a variety of violations, including use of pictures of the goddess Chamundeswari in campaign hoardings near a temple.

The Election Commission's statement comes in the backdrop of an interview of JD(S) president H.D. Deve Gowda to The Hindu where he charged election officials with acting like political party agents.

In a related development, the Election Commission censured Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj Horatti for allegedly seeking support for the JD(S) in the byelection during a meeting with the teachers. Terming it a violation of para 11 of the model code of conduct, the commission said it had decided to censure him and cautioned him to be careful.

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