Karnataka   

Returning Officer for Gubbi segment assaulted

TUMKUR: A BJP leader allegedly assaulted the Returning Officer of the Gubbi Assembly constituency in Tumkur district on Wednesday.

S. Vijaykumar, former president of the Gubbi taluk BJP unit, went to the office of K.G. Thimmareddy, Returning Officer, at Gubbi to file his nomination papers. It was lunchtime. But, Mr. Vijaykumar was in no mood to wait as, according to his followers, it was an auspicious time for him to file the papers.

Mr. Vijaykumar was accompanied by a large number of people. He was annoyed when the Returning Officer told him the rule that only five persons could accompany him. There was an altercation between the BJP leader and the official, and Mr. Vijaykumar allegedly assaulted Mr. Thimmareddy.

Supporters of the BJP leader also allegedly thrashed the official and prevented the office staff from coming to his rescue.

The police brought the situation under control and shifted Mr. Thimmareddy to the Government Hospital at Gubbi.

On receipt of an official report on the incident, S.R. Umashankar, Deputy Commissioner, who is also the District Election Officer, issued orders to the police to arrest the BJP leader.

Mr. Vijaykumar has, however, gone underground. The police are on the lookout for him.

The BJP has named S.R. Nataraj, son of the late former Minister, Sagaranahalli Revanna, as its official nominee.

The assault on an election official is stated to be the first crime of its kind in the 55-year electoral history of the district.

Election process got under way on Wednesday. Two nominations were filed on the opening day in the district. Sannamuddappa, Janata Dal (S) leader filed his nomination papers for the Madhugiri Assembly constituency in the district.

A follower of S.P. Muddahanume Gowda, former Kunigal MLA and Congress leader, filed a set of his [Mr. Gowda’s] nomination papers from the Kunigal Assembly constituency.

Mr. Gowda is said to be away in New Delhi trying for the Congress ticket for the Kunigal seat.

On a suggestion by an astrologer that Wednesday was a good day for him to file the nomination papers, he got it done through one of his supporters.

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