With just two weeks to go for the Assembly polls in Karnataka, the battle between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka is getting ugly.
In yet another complaint to the Election Commission, the Congress has sought action against mining scam tainted former Union Minister Janardhana Reddy for calling Chief Minister Siddaramaiah “Ravana” and likening B Sriramulu to Rama.
Sriramulu, an MP and close aide of the mining baron, is contesting against Siddaramaiah in Badami apart from fighting it out at Molakalmuru in Chitradurga.
The Congress objected to Reddy’s statement, where he said, “Sriramulu has been fielded by the BJP to kill (Samhara) Siddharavana”. Further, the party objected to his statement of “Goddess Banashankari has created Sriramulu as Rama to finish Siddaravanna, i.e., Siddaramaiah”.
In its complaint the Congress has sought action against Reddy under Section 171 (Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent) of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 125 (Promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of Representation of Peoples Act.
“The statement of Mr Janardhana Reddy is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and provisions of Part IX A of the Indian Penal Code (Section 171) and section 125 of the RP Act. It is a clear exercise of undue influence to woo voters of Chamundeshwari and Badami,” the Congress complaint said.
The Congress had earlier objected to BJP’s TV advertisements. The EC, on Friday, admitted the complaint and stayed three TV advertisements claiming poor governance on part of the Congress.
The Congress also objected to the BJP ads taking credit for passing an ordinance giving death sentence to child rapists. The Election Commission of India is yet to take a decision on it.
Earlier, the BJP had gone to the Karnataka High Court over reservations of the Congress calling their chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa a jail bird.