BJP says Congress gave away Ramzan kits in Davangere in violation of poll code

BJP leaders said in Davangere on Sunday that Congress leaders have distributed Ramzan kits to electors in violation of the Election Model Code of Conduct.

The former district unit president of the BJP Yashwantrao Jadhav has said that Congress leaders have distributed Ramzan kits to Muslim voters in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

He said that he will file a complaint with the Election Commission officials.

At a press conference, Mr. Jadhav displayed the food kit distributed by the Congress leaders. These kits contained rice, vermicelli, lentils, sugar and cooking oil packets.

The bags had the names of Congress leaders late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, MP Prabha Mallikarjun and the party nominee for the bypolls Samarth Shamanur.

They also had the Congress symbol on it.

He accused the Congress of attempting to win the byelection through unfair means and said that such tricks were tried in the last elections too.

“Congress leaders had during the last elections lured the voters by distributing cookers and other items. But even after filing a complaint, the Election Commission did not take action,” he said.

He also said that MP Prabha Mallikarjun, mother of the candidate, took her car till the gate of the Electoral Returning Office during filing nomination papers.

“There is a rule that any candidate filing nomination papers must park their vehicle outside a 300-foot radius from the election office. But the MP violated it. Does this rule not apply to her?” asked Mr. Jadhav.

“It is time voters realised how the Congress is deceiving the people. The Election Commission must conduct polling transparently and honestly without any bias. We will protest if the Minister misuses the government machinery or if the Election Commission officials do not conduct the polls in a fair manner,” he said.

BJP district president N. Rajasekhar, leaders Gayatri Siddeshwar, Anand Rao Shinde, Lokikere Nagaraj, B.G. Ajay Kumar, Rajanahalli Shivakumar and others were present.