Congress replies on violation of code

Mangalore, May 30 (UNI) The Congress has sent its reply to the Election Commission on a notice served against the alleged violation of election code during the campaign for June 2 by election to the Ullal Assembly constituency.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjun Kharge today said that he had not violated the election code as said he had never held any party meeting or press conference in Ullal.

''I was holding only election meeting and door to door canvassing for the party candidate U T Khader'', he added.

The Election Commission in its notice had pointed out that according to the complaint received, Mr Kharge had allegedly held party workers' meeting and press conference in violation of the election norms.

Regarding the Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari's statement that many Congress legislators were willing to support the continuation of Mr H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister after October 2007, Mr Kharge said Mr Ansari and JD(S) was ''day dreaming''. No one from my party was supporting as claimed by Mr Ansari nor anybody quitting Congress to join JD(S).

UNI