The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on charges of not acting on complaints regarding the violation of the model code of conduct in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency where a bypoll is scheduled for December 4.
Kumaraswamy was asked to reply to the notice by November 30. The EC said press reports suggested the Karnataka governor, in a letter to the chief minister, had made certain "adverse" observations with regard to the violation of the model code of conduct in the constituency and the need for the conduct of the bypoll in a free and fair manner.
The poll panel said it had also been observed from press reports that certain complaints were made to the chief minister that candidates and workers of opposition parties were not being permitted to hold political meetings.
These reports "give a clear indication on your part that the state government headed by you does not intend to take such steps or measures as may ensure the conduct of the by-election in a free and fair manner," the Election Commission said.
The panel sought information from the chief minister on the steps taken by his government to ensure that no further violations of the model code of conduct occur and to create a peaceful atmosphere and maintain law and order in Mysore district.
Former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, the political bete noire of Kumaraswamy's father H D Deve Gowda, is contesting the bypoll on a Congress ticket.
Former minister and senior Congress leader, H Vishwanath ridiculed Deve Gowda's action in resorting to mounavrata as one aimed at "deactivating the Election Commission observers so as to protect JD-S (Janata Dal-Secular) goonda elements".
Activists led by Prof Govinda Rao, Prof Ramdos and veteran Congress leader Vedanta Hemmige staged a demonstration, demanding that the government put an end to malpractices in the election.
Meanhwile, former legislator and JD-U candidate A S Guruswamy has urged the Election Commission to countermand the poll slated for December 4, alleging that JD-S workers had been systematically preventing him from canvassing in certain localities.
With hardly five days left for the Chamundeshwari bypoll, the political temperature is soaring with allegations of poll code violations being flung at each other.
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