Karnataka Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) chief B S Yeddyurappa has requested the EC to reconsider its decision to "relax" the model code of conduct for the state government and to direct it to strictly abide by the code. Yeddyurappa asked the commission to direct the state government to annul all decisions taken by it in the last two days.
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He said the Karnataka government was "claiming" that the EC had relaxed the model code of conduct and allowed it to take up developmental works which include projects related to infrastructure, purchases and services. "The state government claimed that the CEC has given permission to float and finalise tenders on this," he said in a letter to the chief election commissioner dated April 25 that was released to the media on Friday.
"My gut feeling is, in this transition period when the general elections are in progress, the decisions taken by the state government will amount to violation of the model code of conduct, leading to various irregularities. I wonder (if CEC has given permission) how the CEC has taken this decision to relax the guidelines of the poll code," Yeddyurappa said. In the letter, he noted that as a norm, the model code will be in force till the completion of elections and the notification of results.
Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary Arvind Limbavali asked the Karnataka government not to take up any major project-related work. "The government should immediately take up drought relief work which is allowed," he said, and accused the CM and his cabinet ministers of not reviewing the drought situation even three days after the end of the last phase of parliamentary polls in the state on April 23.
