Krishna questions EC poll procedures

Udupi, May 11 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today opined that there was a need to debate on Election Commission (EC) poll procedureS.

Speaking a press conference here after addressing election meetings at Padubidre and Kalyanpura, he said the 'strict' guidelines by the EC had affected campaigning and voting.

Due to stringent measures by the EC, political parties, Congress in particular, could not freely communicate with the people about the policies and programmes of their parties.

''Despite the strict measures, money played its role in the first phase of the election held yesterday,'' he noted.

He said he had requested AICC General Secretary and Union Minister Oscar Fernades to take up the issue.

''We will press for a comprehensive view on how to go about electioneering without hampering the political parties,'' he said.

Replying to the criticism made by former chief minister and BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa on Congress' 'inability' to project its chief ministerial candidate, Mr Krishna said the party had no such tradition and none of its prominent leaders who went on the become chief ministers were not projected as chief ministers.

In Padubidre, Mr Krishna appealed the voters to vote for Congress to fulfill the unfulfilled tasks during his tenure.

He said he was not satisfied with the media pre-poll survey or exit-polls as they differed so much in between their predictions.

''In any case, we are fully confident of gaining a majority in this election and form our own government,'' he said.

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