HC notice: The Karnataka High Court on Friday (July 28) issued notice to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on a petition alleging electoral malpractice and sought his disqualification from the Varuna assembly constituency.
The notice is returnable by September 1, Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav ordered and adjourned the hearing.
The petition blamed the Congress’ election manifesto which promised five guarantees and described them as “‘corrupt practices amounting to bribery and also undue influence under Section 123(2) of The Representation of the People Act.”
Petitioner's allegations
The petition alleged that the Congress leader had breached the rules and guidelines under the Representation of People Act.
“The said guarantees are in the nature of offer and promises made by the candidate and by the Indian National Congress party. This was done with the consent of the respondent (Siddaramaiah). They are in the form of gratification to the electorate of the Varuna constituency and with the object of directly inducing the electorate to vote for the Congress party candidate namely the respondent. The consideration was the vote in favour of the Respondent as a gratification with the motive and reward,” the petition claimed.
The petition was filed by KM Shankara, a private citizen from the Varuna constituency.
The petitioner alleged that Siddaramaiah “indulged in corrupt practice during the election period.”
Karnataka Assembly polls were held in May this year in which Congress ousted the BJP government in the state and returned to power with a majority. Siddaramaiah won from the Varuna constituency.
(With PTI inputs)
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