NEW DELHI, 22 OCT

BJP on Tuesday approached Election Commission with a demand to disqualify Congress Ballari MP E Tukaram, alleging illegal money was used to influence voters in his constituency during the Lok Sabha polls, and he did not show the actual expenditure incurred in the election.

In a separate memorandum to the poll panel, Karnataka BJP delegation, led by its president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, also demanded action against Congress government in the State, alleging it violated the Model Code of Conduct by giving ‘full page advertisements’ to influence voters ahead of assembly bypolls on three seats.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yediyurappa said BJP delegation demanded the election commission that Tukaram be disqualified as ‘money siphoned off from the Karnataka Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited’ was used to influence voters in his constituency during the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.

He claimed that Rs 187 crore was siphoned off from KVSTDC Limited and used by Congress during the Lok Sabha elections in the State and elsewhere.

"This has been exposed," he told reporters, referring to the findings of an Enforcement Directorate probe into the case.

Yediyurappa said Congress government in Karnataka has violated the Model Code of Conduct by giving full page advertisements and making ‘false’ claims ahead of the bypolls to be held in the State's three assembly constituencies.

"This is a clear violation of the Model Code of conduct. We have requested the Chief Election Commissioner to take necessary action against the State government," Karnataka BJP chief told reporters. -PTI