HDK seeks international supervision for Chamundeswari bypoll

Bangalore, Nov 29: Claiming that the Election Commission (EC) was being grossly misled by the Congress to serve its selfish ends, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today asked the EC to conduct the December four byelection to the Chamundeswari Assembly constituency under the supervision of international agencies.

Addressing newspersons here, a visibly upset Mr Kumaraswamy, who was served notice by the EC for alleged violation of model code of conduct, alleged that the Congress was using the EC to win the bypoll and questioned the credence of some of the actions initiated by Election Observer Raymond Peter.

About the demand of former Prime Minister and his father H D Deve Gowda for removing Mr Peter, the Chief Minister said that irrespective of the election observer, the State Government would extend all cooperation to hold the poll in a free and fair manner.

Refuting all the charges levelled against him and his party for luring the voters, he said that as a disciplined party worker, he had involved in the election campaign, seeking votes on the basis of his Government's performances and party programmes and policies.

Mr Kumaraswamy said frustration due to imminent loss in the bypoll had made the Congress leaders go berserk against the Government and his party, lodging a number of false complaints with the EC, besides trying to countermand the bypoll.

He said the EC had sought certain clarifications on the State Government's decision to sanction monthly allowance to a Devadasi sect following a ''false complaint'' lodged by the Congress. But, as the beneficiary was from Bijapur district, it did not amount to violation of model code of conduct.

Referring to the two letters he had received from Governor T N Chaturvedi, the Chief Minister said it contained only some advises and not any objection to the functioning of the State Government.

''The Congress leaders, however, have made it a big issue with an intention to create confusion among the voters in Chamundeshwari.

Besides, the Governor has written the letters on the basis of certain media reports which were far from truth.'' Mr Kumaraswamy strongly defended the action of JD(S) leader and Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti in meeting poll officials and teachers yesterday, stating that the Minister was taking meals with the teachers.

He announced that three JD(U) Legislators have decided to support the JD(S) candidate and would also join the party.

UNI

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