“ECI runs by rules, no question of interference”: K’taka CM dismisses Shivakumar’s ‘disqualify Congress candidates’ charge

In response to DK Shivakumar’s allegations that the Karnataka CMO attempted to disqualify Congress candidates, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday that the Election Commission (EC) is a constitutionally formed body and there is no question of interference. His statement comes after the KPCC president claimed that the legal teams of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress Party of India (CMO) are attempting to disqualify Congress candidates’ nominations ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections. Shivakumar claimed that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai personally calls officials and urged the Election Commission to look into the Chief Minister’s call log.

Bommai slammed Shivakumar’s claims, saying the KPCC president is afraid of defeat and thus makes such “useless allegations.”

“Election Commission is a constitutionally formed, independent body. It runs by the rules of the Election Commission. So, there is no question of interference. He is scared of his defeat, so he is making baseless, useless allegations every morning. I need not answer all that,” said Bommai.

Bommai also stated that Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep’s campaign will be completed within the next day or two. Sudeep had declared his support for the BJP in the Assembly elections, but he had also stated that he would not run. The CM stated that he would be attending the roadshow, which begins in Yalahanka and proceeds to Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Tumkur, Arsikere, Belagavi division, and then Mysuru division.

On April 19, the Karnataka chief minister filed his nomination from the Assembly constituency, accompanied by BJP national president JP Nadda and Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep. The 224-member Karnataka Assembly will vote in a single phase on May 10, with results expected on May 13.