RS poll: EC?seeks report on CM 'inducing MLAs' to vote for Cong

Bengaluru, Jun 6: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha election to submit a report on a complaint that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was trying to induce independent MLAs by offering them special grants.

The JD(S) had on May 29 lodged the complaint with the ECI, charging Siddaramaiah with indulging in election malpractice. The chief minister had been wooing independent MLAs by offering Rs 100-crore special development grant to each of their constituencies, the party had charged in its complaint.

The Congress has been trying to get the support of nine independents and MLAs of smaller parties to win the third seat in the elections. Congress's third candidate K C Ramamurthy needs the support of about 13 non-Congress MLAs for his election. Similarly, JD(S) candidate B M Farook has to muster the support of about 12 non-JD(S) MLAs for his election.

About 12 MLAs, including nine independents, had initially pledged their support to Farook. They had even agreed to be the proposers to the JD(S) candidate. But they later changed their decision and declared their support to the Congress candidate. The JD(S) subsequently lodged the complaint with the ECI, alleging that the chief minister was inducing the independents. However, official sources said the JD(S) had not furnished the necessary documents to the ECI to substantiate its claims. But some independent MLAs have reportedly stated that they would vote for the Congress as they would get special funds for the development of their constituencies.

When contacted, Returning Officer S Murthy only said that he was examining the complaint and that he would submit the report soon. The ECI has already directed Murthy, who is also the Karnataka Legislative Assembly secretary, to submit a report on a sting operation done by two national news channels on votes for sale recently. The election is scheduled for June 11.

Chief Minister denies horse-trading

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday refuted the allegations that the Congress had indulged in horse-trading, ahead of Rajya Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said that there was no need for the party to bank on other party legislators to get its candidates elected. Siddaramaiah defended fielding a third candidate in the election, saying that the party will be left with 33 votes after ensuring the victory of two candidates.

“We need 90 votes to win two seats. The party will be left with 33 votes and this may help win another seat. Hence a third candidate is fielded,” the chief minister said. He also denied the party's involvement in the recent sting operation, in which a few MLAs were shown striking money deals for votes.