The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has formally lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against K Jayaprakash Hegde, the Congress candidate from the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. The complaint addresses Hegde’s reported appeal to voters not to support his BJP rival, Kota Srinivas Poojary, on the grounds of his purported lack of proficiency in English and Hindi languages.
Allegations Against Jayaprakash Hegde:
Hegde allegedly stated that Kota Srinivas Poojary’s knowledge limited to the Kannada language would hinder his effectiveness as an MP in Delhi, as mentioned in the complaint filed by the BJP delegation.
BJP’s Response:
The BJP delegation characterized Hegde’s remarks as an affront to the pride of Kannadigas and a derogation of the regional language. They asserted that such comments constitute a violation of the model code of conduct and demanded action by the ECI against Jayaprakash Hegde.
Additional Complaint Against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
In a separate development, another complaint was lodged against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly attempting to defame the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Siddaramaiah was accused of leveling baseless allegations that the BJP was attempting to entice Congress MLAs with offers of Rs 50 crore each.
Allegations Against Siddaramaiah:
The BJP delegation led by former minister S Suresh Kumar asserted that Siddaramaiah’s accusations were politically motivated and lacked substantiation.
Demand for Action:
Terming the allegations as false and a violation of the model code of conduct, the BJP delegation demanded that Siddaramaiah retract his statements and apologize to the BJP. They urged the ECI to take appropriate action against the Chief Minister for his remarks.
