Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress on Wednesday filed a police complaint against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Jarkiholi for his statements on paying cash for votes in the upcoming Assembly elections. The complaint at the High Grounds Police Station was also filed against CM Bommai, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP national president JP Nadda.
“This is part of a concerted conspiracy hatched at the highest levels in the BJP with the tacit approval of the Chief Minister and Legislature Party leader of the BJP, Basavaraj Bommal, the national president of the BJP, JP Nadda and the state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel,” the complaint read.
“Obviously, there is a group of BJP leaders behind this concerted design to bribe voters. This is a blatant and brazen attempt to hijack democracy and is obvious criminal offences under sections 171B, read with 107, 120B, 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860. It is also a bribe offering to the voters as per the provisions of section 123(1) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951,” the complaint continued.
Briefing reporters after filing the complaint, KPCC president DK Shivakumar said that there is a need to safeguard the right to vote. There needs to be vigilance in all the constituencies regarding the BJP’s illegal acts. We will hold a meeting tomorrow with our party workers
Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that BJP has realised it will lose the Assembly polls.
“Jarkiholi is a former minister, a senior leader and a sitting BJP MLA. There is no way he can make such a statement without the knowledge of Nadda, Bommai or Kateel. They don’t believe in free and fair elections. If they are successful, it will result in the death of the democracy.”
Last week, while addressing party workers in Sulebhavi of Belagavi district, BJP leader Jarkiholi assured that he would do whatever possible to oust the incumbent Congress MLA (Laxmi Hebbalkar).
On Monday, the BJP leader courted yet another controversy after he said that Congress will not form the government and he will ensure that BJP returns to power “by hook or by crook.”
“Congress will not form the government; they are simply hyping their prospects. We will bring BJP back to power at any cost. We will do everything possible and bring BJP back to power by hook or by crook.”
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