IN DEFIANCE?: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Mysore on Sunday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: Top leaders of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) have "ignored" the Election Commission's directive to non-local political leaders and activists to leave the constituency to facilitate the conduct of free and fair election in Chamundeshwari, on Monday.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was at a farmhouse in Bhoogathalli off Mysore-Bannur Road and this was brought to the notice of the police by Congress activists. Janata Dal (Secular) activists gheraoed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge at the residence of Girija Mahesh in Jayalakshmipura in the city limits.

Hundreds of Janata Dal (Secular) workers rushed to the farmhouse where the Chief Minister was "taking rest" and got involved in a scuffle with Congress workers who took objection to the Chief Minister's presence there "in violation" of the Election Commission's directive. But the police intervened and prevented the situation from going out of hand.

Mr. Kumaraswamy left the farmhouse around 6 p.m. and the few Congress activists present at the venue were taken into preventive custody and whisked away by the police as Janata Dal (Secular) activists had begun assembling in large numbers and the situation was turning volatile. Mr. Kumaraswamy who came out of the farmhouse accused mediapersons of hounding him and criticised them for "turning a blind eye to the machinations of the Congress." His close aides said the Chief Minister was taking rest in view of his ill health.

By late evening, a few Janata Dal (Secular) activists came to know of the presence of Mr. Kharge in Jayalakshmipuram and spread the word, following which hundreds of the party workers gathered at the venue and chanted slogans against Congress leaders. Mr. Kharge remained indoors for a long time, and additional police had to be rushed to the spot from where he was whisked away. The vehicle used by Mr. Kharge was taken away by the police.

Gift material seized

Earlier, a large quantity of gift material including steel tiffin carriers, T-shirts, umbrellas bearing Janata Dal (Secular) insignia, cricket bats and musical instruments were seized from a farmhouse.

A truck was seized from another farmhouse situated opposite the place where the Chief Minister was "taking rest."

The Janata Dal (Secular) activists alleged that the Congress had used the former party's insignia and alerted the police.

Election Observer Anand Singh visited the spot and sought details of the material seized. He gathered information on the situation at both the venues.Earlier, Janata Dal (Secular) activists gheraoed the former Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil and All India Congress Committee general secretary Narayanaswamy near the toll gate on the Mysore-Bangalore highway.

While the Janata Dal (Secular) activists contended that the leaders had been camping in the city and had been "caught while escaping," Mr. Narayanaswamy and Dharam Singh told The Hindu over phone that they had learnt of the presence of senior Janata Dal (Secular) leaders in Mysore "in defiance" of the Election Commission's directive and hence had rushed to Mysore from the border where they were staying. But they were prevented by the police from entering Mysore in view of the directive. It was at this juncture that they were gheraoed, they said.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said the Congress would urge the authorities to issue a criminal notice to the Chief Minister for "violating" the directive. The other leaders who were reported to have "violated" the directive include Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Home Minister M.P. Prakash, B.C. Patil, and Chikkamadhu among others.

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