BANGALORE: Former prime minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, has urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N Gopalaswamy to personally review the “electoral malpractices” of the BJP government in the state in view of the byelections to eight Assembly seats on December 27.
He told reporters on Monday that there were rampant transfers of officials, even after electoral code of conduct came into force.
He also accused the government of supplying “liquor freely to influence voters.” He alleged that excise department officials had turned a blind eye to “illegal storage of liquor for distribution during polls.” H e denied reports of any understanding with Congress and said that JD(S) would fight both Congress and the BJP with the same vigour.
On confiscation of money by the police in Belgaum, meant to be given to JD(S) candidates, Gowda said that the “Rs 20 lakh seized by the additional SP was meant to be distributed to candidates in Arabhavi and Hukkeri.” Election Commission has spend Rs 10 lakh for polls, he noted and demanded that confiscated money be returned.