Bengaluru, Dec 5 (IANS): The Karnataka Congress on Thursday complained to the Election Commission against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 'distributing' cash during the by-elections to 15 Assembly segments in the state on Thursday.
"BJP workers and leaders were distributing cash to voters at K.R. Pura, Yeshwantpur and Yellapura constituencies," complained Congress legislative council member Prakash Rathod.
Additionally, Rathod said that BJP workers distributed cash in all the 15 constituencies that went to the polls on Thursday, both at nearby polling stations and booth tables.
Screengrab from viral video
According to Rathod, Dyamanna Doddamani, a close aide of Yellapura BJP candidate Shivaram Hebbar, distributed cash.
He said a video of Doddamani's act went viral on social media and news channels.
Rathod said that inducing voters with cash amounted to violating Section 171 (C) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 123 (1) (A) of the Representation of People's Act and the model code of conduct (MCC).