BJP complains to poll officials on political activities in offices of Karnataka ministers, MLAs

It accused Shivakumar of defying the code of conduct by organising a political programme at the government office, despite being aware that it should not be done.

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‘Violated election code’

Despite this happening under the nose of the state’s Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel, his apparent inaction is alarming, it added.

The Lok Sabha elections have been announced and filing of nomination papers has already started but the lack of enforcement of the election code by government officials is evident, BJP said, adding it has informed poll officials that party activities are still going on in the offices of several ruling party MLAs.

The ministers are holding press conferences from their offices in Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Saudha, it said. “An example is that on 25 March, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda held a press conference at Vikasa Soudha and criticised the Union government. The Election Commission should immediately close the offices of the Ministers,” it added.

Ministers and MLAs should be barred from carrying out any political activity in government buildings, the BJP said in its petition and requested the Election Commission to give appropriate direction to the concerned authorities in this regard.

It also demanded that strict action should be taken against the officials who are allowing such activities to defy the rules.

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