Karnataka election date leak row : EC says strict action will be taken
New Delhi, Mar 27 (IBNS) : Even before the Election Commission announced the Karnataka election schedule, a tweet by BJP leader Amit Malviya making public the exact poll date kicked up a huge controversy on Tuesday, prompting the Chief Election Commissioner to pledge "strict action" against the leak, reports said.
The tweet by BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya made in the middle of the press conference of Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat revealed that Karnataka goes to polls on May 12,raising an obvious question as to how the information was leaked to the ruling party and prompting the opposition Congress to hit out at the EC.
“Karnataka will vote on 12May2018, counting on 18May2018,” Mr. Malviya had written in a now-deleted tweet.
Malviya's tweet, which, however, had the date of counting wrong, was deleted quickly.
The Karnataka results will be announced on May 15. The deleted tweet had it as May 18.
The Congress, which came out with the screenshot of the tweet, alleging that the Election Commission is "biased."
Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat, while announcing the Karnataka Assembly poll dates in a press conference, said that prior to the EC’s official announcement, the BJP IT cell had tweeted partially wrong information about the election schedule.
“Actions legally and administratively befitting will be taken,” s Rawat when asked at the press conference about the alleged leak.
However, he had said earlier, "We won't comment on changing date because of a leak. The decision was just taken. They were wrong about counting date so it's wrong to say they were prepared beforehand."
Suspended BJP lawmaker and former cricketer Kirti Azad called Malviya the "Steve Smith" of BJP, referring to the disgraced Australian skipper held guilty for a ball-tampering scandal.
Questioning the credibility of the election panel, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said : “BJP becomes the ‘Super Election Commission’ as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking EC’s confidential information?”
The notification for Karnataka Assembly polls will be issued on April 17.
The last date for filing nomination by candidates has been scheduled on Apr 24 while the scrutiny of nomination files will be done by the EC on Apr 25.
The last date for withdrawal of candidate is Apr 27.
To ensure law and order during the poll, the Election Commission will deploy adequate central forces in the state.
While the Congress is trying to return to power for the second consecutive term, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming to wrest power in the state.
The battle of the state has turned into a tough contest between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is the BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate.
The Congress present has 123 seats in a 225-member Assembly. The BJP, the principal opposition, is having 43 seats under its belt.
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