BJP plaints against Sriramulu, Congress

BANGALORE / BELLARY: The BJP has complained to the Election Commission that independent candidate for the November 30 Bellary bypoll B Sriramulu has violated the model code of conduct by distributing thousands of T-shirts with his photograph and also using a number of vehicles. Bangalore MLAs B N Vijaykumar and Dr Ashwathnarayan, city BJP president Subba Narasimha, among others, presented a memorandum to Special Officer (Elections) R Manoj in this regard.In response, Manoj said he will seek a report from the Bellary returning officer and initiate appropriate action. “It is very clear that no clothing can be distributed to the voters. It has to be ascertained whether T-shirts were  distributed to the workers or voters,” he added. The party has also alleged that Sriramulu flouted election norms by issuing contradictory statements during his poll campaign. In a press release, it said that the former minister flouted the model code of conduct, by stating in an interview to the media that the `16 lakh expense ceiling fixed by the Election Commission for candidates was not enough.Besides, the BJP has alleged that Congress candidates too have flouted election norms by getting their campaign vehicles painted in the tri-colour. It has urged the EC to declare all polling booths in Bellary Rural Constituency as most sensitive, for the security of voters and maintaining law and order in the region.