Cong lauds EC for impartial polling

Bangalore, Dec 4 (UNI) Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge today exuded confidence that his party candidate and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would emerge victorious in the Chamundeswari Assembly byelection and lauded the Election Commission (EC) for conducting a free and fair poll.

Addressing newspersons here, he said the about 65 per cent poll percentage recorded was high for any byelection in the State.

Mr Kharge claimed that the JD(S)' attempts to create problems during polling were defeated by the strong actions of the EC.

Referring to yesterday's incident in which he was gheraoed by JD(S) workers who forced the police to seize his car and Rs one lakh in cash found in the car, he reiterated that both the vehicle and the cash were not his. ''The incident occurred outside the constituency and I have nothing more to say on it,'' he added.

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