Ballari: The state Congress plans to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against disqualified legislator, B S Anand singh for allegedly trying to woo voters of Vijayanagar constituency by distributing gold coins among them at his son's wedding on December 1, just a few days ahead of the December 5 bypolls.
Speaking to reporters here, former minister, Basavaraj Rayaraddi who is in charge of the Congress party’s campaign in Vijayanagara, claimed Mr Singh, the BJP candidate from the constituency, was all set to lure voters by distributing an eight gram gold coin with the carving of goddess Lakshmi on it to about 55,000 households in the constituency at his son's wedding.
“ Mr Singh has already erected a big pandal behind his newly opened 'Dwaraka' palace in Hosapete at a cost of Rs 2 crore. He is also reported to have arranged to serve rich food and gift a gold coin each to the people of the constituency, who have been invited to the wedding,” he claimed.
While the Congress leader said the party had no objection to the BJP leader’s son's wedding, it wanted to make sure that everything was done in accordance with the election code of conduct in force for the byelections.
“The expenditure on food and other arrangements for the wedding should be included in Mr Singh’s election expenditure and a special squad of the Election Commission must be deputed to the venue to keep an eye on things," he demanded.
Claiming that Mr Singh was making “unethical and illegal” attempts to get elected in the bypoll as he had realised he would not win it by fair means, Mr Rayareddy warned the Congress would not merely standby and watch, but complain to the EC about it.
