Congress complains against Yeddyurappa to Election Commission

Congress in Karnataka has petitioned the Election Commission against state BJP B S Yeddyurappa accusing him of asking voters to take oath in the name of god that they will vote for his party candidate in Gundlupet bypolls, in return for development once he becomes the Chief Minister.
Accusing Yeddyurappa of "corrupt practice" at the instance of party candidate Niranjan Kumar, it said they are liable for punishment as per the provisions of law, and requested the Commission to take cognizance and initiate appropriate criminal proceedings against both of them.
Congress has also sought disqualification of Niranjan Kumar from contesting the bypoll to uphold the "high principles of the democracy" and to have a free and fair election in the interest of justice.

"....He (Yeddyurappa) appealed to the voters to cast their votes in favour of BJP candidate Niranjan Kumar stating that he is going to become a Chief Minister of Karnataka and he will stick to his promises/words and he will take adoption of Gundlupet Assembly constituency for development," said the letter to the Chief Election Commissioner signed by some Congress leaders including MLC Ugrappa.
It said further he promised on an oath in the name of God that he is not going to deceive the voters of Gundlupet.
"Further Yeddyurappa demanded voters to take a oath in the name of god stating that they are going to vote in favour of BJP candidate, and on his demand the voters who were in that meeting took an oath in the name of God stating that they are going to vote in favour of the BJP candidate," it added.

Congress said this is nothing but an "undue influence" on the voters of the Gundlupet Assembly constituency to vote in favour of the BJP candidate and also "promoting enmity" between different classes of citizens.

The April 9 bypolls are being held for Gundlupet and Nanjangud constituencies respectively following the death of Cooperative Minister Mahadeva Prasad and resignation of V Srinivas Prasad as Congress MLA after he was dropped from the ministry.
While Srinivas Prasad is now the BJP candidate from the Nanjangud constituency, Congress has fielded Kalale Keshavamurthy, who had contested the 2013 assembly polls on JD(S) ticket.
In Gundlupet, Congress has fielded Mahadeva Prasad's wife Geeta Mahadeva Prasad and BJP has fielded C S Niranjan Kumar as its candidate.