BJP leaders in Karnataka on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not disclosing his social media accounts in his election affidavit.
CM Siddaramaiah has a verified Twitter handle, @siddaramaiah, and Facebook account by his name, but none of these feature in his affidavit as part of his nomination papers for Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru.
In the run-up to the polls, Siddaramaiah has been using his verified Twitter and Facebook accounts to attack his political opponents and also propagate government programmes started during his tenure as CM.
In his affidavit, however, Siddaramaiah stated that he does not have a WhatsApp number, email ID, Facebook or Twitter account. In fact, he specified ‘nil’ against social media accounts.
BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to Twitter to question who was handling the verified Twitter account in Siddaramaiah’s name.
“So the @siddaramaiah handle which is a verified handle belongs to whom? Who in his or her right mind wants to pretend to be @siddaramaiah? @TwitterIndia pls investigate ! Copy: @ceo_karnataka @ElectionComm@BJP4Karnataka,” the businessman turned politican tweeted.
So the @siddaramaiah handle which is a verified handle belongs to whom?
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) April 21, 2018
Who in his or her right mind wants to pretend to be @siddaramaiah ? @TwitterIndia pls investigate !
Copy: @ceo_karnataka @ElectionComm @BJP4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/eIm4WdhgxS
Former Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda meanwhile called for CM Siddaramaiah’s nomination to be rejected for ‘providing wrong information to EC in his affidavit’.
Sri @siddaramaiah nomination must be rejected for providing wrong information to EC in his affidavit.Despite having verified FB and Tweeter account . Congress never respected Democratic institutions including CJI ,SC ,& now EC they always go scot free despite mistake pic.twitter.com/YcoeSMecYu
— Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) April 22, 2018
Responding to the allegations, a source close to the CM told TNM that it was an honest mistake.
“Somebody in charge of preparing and filing the affidavit didn’t understand what was being asked and wrote no as a matter of routine. There are provisions for filing a revised affidavit, it is being done. Rajeev Chandershekhar is clutching at straws,” the source told TNM.
A district official on election duty told TNM, “There is still time for scrutiny. All affidavits will undergo scrutiny. The observers will then provide an opportunity to correct particulars if any. If only the candidate stands by the wrong or insufficient details, then authorities can take action.”