New Delhi: On the eve of the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Election Commission on Friday ordered postponement of polling to the Rajrajeshwari Nagar Assembly seat to May 28, saying the current electoral process in the constituency has been “vitiated” by parties and candidates by trying to influence voters.
People in the constituency will now vote on May 28 and counting will be held on May 31.
The decision comes days after nearly 10,000 voter identity cards were recovered from a flat in the constituency, leading to a slugfest between the BJP and the Congress.
The order, signed by the Chief Election Commissioner and two fellow Commissioners, said “the Commission is satisfied that the current electoral process (in the constituency) has been vitiated on account of unlawful activities of candidates and political parties.” It said the parties and candidates tried to woo the electorate to vote for them and also tried to keep them away from casting their ballot.
The poll watchdog also directed the election authorities in the state to provide fresh voter identity cards (Electoral Photo Identity Card or EPIC) to all those whose cards were recovered from the flat seven days prior to the fresh election date.
The EC order said the cards belonged to “voters in the vulnerable community”.
It said random checks found that the cards were genuine and further investigation was required to ascertain who broke the door of the flat before three police constables reached the scene after receiving a phone call.
The order also quoted a ground report by Deputy EC, which said there is a “design to induce voters” and that the planning was on even before the elections were announced which was a “serious cause for concern”.
Using its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to postpone the polls in R R Nagar, the EC said there is a “definite inference that all the above seized gift items and collection of EPIC were likely for large-scale inducement of the voters”.
It pointed out that bribery and inducement of voters is an offence under the Indian Penal Code.
The BJP and the Congress, the two main contenders for power, went after each other claiming that the flat—from where the cards were recovered—belonged to a woman associated with the rival party.
The Assembly polls in the state will take place on Saturday in 223 constituencies and the results will be announced on May 31.
The election for one constituency has been postponed following the death of B.N. Vijay Kumar, Jayanagar BJP candidate.
A total of 2655 candidates, including 219 women, are in the poll fray in the upcoming elections.
In 2018, 2436 males will be contesting the elections as compared to 2788 in 2013, a difference of 352 less. This year, 219 women are in the poll fray as opposed to 170 in 2013, a difference of 49.
There are 800 registered candidates from unrecognised political parties contesting the polls this year, compared to 832 in 2013, a difference of 32.
In 2018, 1155 independent candidates are contesting the state polls as compared to 1223 in 2013, that is, 68 less.