Shadow of RR seat, Lingayat on poll eve
KARNATAKA GOES TO POLLS TODAY
On the eve of the all-important Karnataka Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Friday ordered postponement of elections to the Rajarajeshwari (RR) Nagar Assembly seat to May 28, following the seizure of around 10,000 voter identity cards from a flat in RR Nagar constituency a couple of days back.
Voting in the rest of Karnataka seats will be held as per schedule on Saturday.
The poll watchdog also directed the election authorities in the state to provide fresh voter identity cards to all those whose cards were recovered from the flat seven days before the fresh election date. Shot in the arm for Congress: Meanwhile, several seers from important Lingayat mutts of north-Karnataka have spoken out in one voice in support of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Lingayat cabinet ministers stating that the latter did not indulge in dividing Lingayat religion.
They have called upon devotees not to get carried away by the statements of a section of seers who are bent upon bringing bad name to Lingayat religion.
On the eve of the all important Karnataka Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Friday ordered postponement of elections to the Rajrajeshwari (RR) Nagar Assembly seat to May 28, following the seizure of around 10,000 voter identity cards from a flat in the constituency a couple of days back.
Voting in the rest of Karnataka seats will be held as per schedule on Saturday.
The EC in its order said there is “definite inference” to suggest that efforts were made to induce voters in RR Nagar. After the polling in the seat on May 28, results will be declared on May 31— 16 days after the outcome of other constituencies will be known on May 15.
“The Commission is satisfied that the current electoral process (in the constituency) has been vitiated on account of unlawful activities of candidates and political parties,” the EC said.
It said the cards belonged to “voters in the vulnerable community” and added that random checks found that the cards were genuine. Further investigation was required to ascertain who broke the door of the flat before three cops reached the scene after receiving a phone call.