The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘BJP’s open threat to voters is undemocratic’

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Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘BJP’s open threat to voters is undemocratic’

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Intimidating people to cast their votes in favour of a political party, with the message that if they do not do so they would be denied any development project in their locality is undemocratic, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mallikarjun Kharge said here on Tuesday.

Speaking to presspersons before participating in the padayatra from Agrahara Dasarahalli and Gundu Rao Colony — two Dalit-dominated localities in the Govindarajanagar Assembly Constituency — Mr. Kharge reiterated that threatening voters with dire consequences if the ruling party was not favoured in the elections was a form of dictatorship.

Reference

He was referring to the speech made by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district where he had reportedly told voters that their areas might be denied development projects if they did not favour the BJP candidate in the byelections.

Priya Krishna, Congress candidate and son of Vijayanagar MLA M. Krishnappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa and former Minister H.M. Revanna were present. A large number of party workers and residents, who gathered near Ambedkar Park on Basaveswara Nagar main road, marched with Mr. Kharge on the padayatra. He also stopped to address people at the localities.

Mr. Kharge urged them not to vote for Housing and Muzrai Minister V. Somanna, a “defector” of the Congress. He said Mr. Somanna was seeking re-election as the BJP candidate in Govindarajanagar Assembly Constituency.

He said it was the tax payers who help the State and Central governments mobilise funds for development activities, and they had a right to demand civic facilities and infrastructure in their constituencies. The funds neither belonged to the Congress nor the BJP, he added. He went on to urge the voters to choose Mr. Krishna, a young candidate of the party, over Mr. Somanna, who had “no qualms in changing loyalties”.

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