Karnataka - Bangalore   

Dharam Singh, Kharge pressuring officials: BJP

BANGALORE: Accusing senior Congress leaders N. Dharam Singh and M. Mallikarjun Kharge of misusing their political clout to bring pressure on officials to work in their favour during this elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday urged the Chief Electoral Officer to declare their Assembly constituencies of Jewargi and Chittapur “hyper-sensitive.”

The BJP has lodged a complaint with M.N. Vidyashankar against Mr. Dharam Singh and Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge.

It demanded that senior and impartial election observers be deputed to these constituencies to ensure free and fair elections.

It also sought disciplinary action against the election officer of Gulbarga district and the returning officers of the two constituencies for allegedly acting at the behest of the Congress leaders.

The BJP alleged that Mr. Dharam Singh and Mr. Kharge had summoned police officers to their premises and issued directions, in violation of the code of conduct.

The returning officers had failed to take action, though the matter was brought to their notice.

The party charged the two leaders with distributing money and liquor to voters. About 500 bottles of liquor were supplied in each of Dhandhothi and Maragol villages on May 17. They distributed Rs 30,000 to each of the Stree Shakti women’s self-help groups and used more than 250 vehicles in their constituencies for campaigning.

It alleged that Mr. Kharge had managed to get postings for the officials of his choice in Chittapur. Those officials, who were also on polling duty, were working for Mr. Kharge’s victory.

The BJP alleged that the polling officials were strictly implementing the instructions of Mr. Kharge and his relatives at Gundugurthy hobli, native place of Mr. Kharge’s wife.

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