The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to take “immediate appropriate action” on a complaint filed by JD (S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda that Congress MP D K Suresh was allegedly planning distribution of freebies and the state poll machinery failed to take swift action.
In a letter to the state CEO, the ECI asked him to take action, keeping in mind the provisions of the model code of conduct and relevant laws, and sought a compliance report at the earliest.
The letter was sent on March 21 based on the former Prime Minister’s complaint to the poll body.
The JD(S) leader has alleged that the state election machinery failed to take swift action to prevent “corrupt activities” in the Bengaluru (Rural) Lok Sabha seat.
He alleged that the freebies were removed from a godown as the field machinery failed to take appropriate action.
“…there is not only dereliction of duties by the concerned officer but the officers are afraid of taking action against the present MP, who is the brother of DK Shivkumar, deputy chief minister…” Gowda alleged.