The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : EC should offer explanation to voters: Congress

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Monday, May 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

EC should offer explanation to voters: Congress

Special Correspondent

‘Party stand on the issue of electoral rolls substantiated’
Yeddyurappa remarks termed violation of code

Bangalore: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has demanded that the Election Commission offer an explanation to the thousands of people who could not vote in the first phase of the polling on Saturday.

KPCC spokesman V.R. Sudarshan, MLC, told presspersons here on Sunday that the disappointment and anger of thousands of voters in the 89 constituencies had substantiated the Congress’ stand on the issue of electoral rolls.

Irrespective of the technical lapses and the administrative reasoning, the commission should admit that a record number of voters had been deprived of their fundamental right.

Comparison

Referring to the alleged comment likening BJP and Congress with Rama and Ravana, reportedly made by the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa, Mr. Sudarshan said it was amounted to violation of the election code of conduct.

The party would draw the commission’s attention to it, he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa’s reported comment had cast aspersions on the Congress.

He was liable to be punished for making such comments under the Representation of People Act, Mr. Sudarshan pointed out.

Exit polls

On the exit polls, Mr. Sudarshan and the former MLC, L. Hanumanthaiah, said that the party would not take the results seriously as they had not taken into account many aspects such as the impact of delimitation on the voting pattern, the mindset of first-time voters etc.

When their attention was drawn to the comments of their party leader on a survey conducted by a private television channel, which favoured Congress, that it reflected “public pulse,” Mr. Hanumanthaiah made efforts to defend the leader but in vain.

Rahul Gandhi’s tour

All-India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi would address election meetings on May 12 at Kumta, Kundapur, Mudigere, Harpanahalli and Chikmagalur constituencies, which would go to the polls on May 16.

Party president Sonia Gandhi would address meetings in Koppal and Mangalore on May 13.

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