Lok Sabha elections: Election officials doing CM’s bidding, alleges Sumalatha

MANDYA: Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh on Sunday accused chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of running the office of the Mandya returning officer (RO) and said the district administration was working in favour of his son Nikhil, her election opponent.
Addressing a press conference here, Sumalatha stated that her poll agent MA Madan Kumar had submitted an objection about the “illegal actions” of the RO, Mandya deputy commissioner N Manjushree, and general observer Ranjeet Kumar J in the validation of Nikhil’s nomination papers.
But she indicated that she was unlikely to immediately to go to court to seek Nikhil’s disqualification.
“Manjushree lied that my poll agent did not raise any objection, even though he filed a written during scrutiny of Nikhil’s nomination,” she said. “The RO did not pass any order on my agent’s objection as she ought to have under the rules. After persistent demands for a surveillance video of the scrutiny process, the RO gave us a video clip that had been tampered with.”
“These incriminating facts prove that Kumaraswamy has been misusing his power and that the RO and general observer are working on his instructions,” Sumalatha said.
She urged Mandya RO and her colleagues to give up their electoral duties if they don’t have strength to withstand political pressure. “I don’t blame officers because they have to face political pressure,” she said. “But the Mandya RO and general observer must exit and allow able officers to take over their poll duties.”
But Sumalatha signaled that she would not seek legal recourse on the issue right away. “Instead of approaching the courts, I would rather continue with my election battle. My intention is to let the people and media know that the RO is working on the whims of the chief minister” Sumalatha said.
Meanwhile, Mysuru regional commissioner TK Anil Kumar, acting on a direction from the Election Commission of India, conducted an inquiry into Sumalatha’s charges. He questioned her poll agent, Madan Kumar, RO Manjushree and other officials.
Kumar reportedly questioned Manjushree on her role in the alleged tampering of the surveillance video. Sources said he would soon send a detailed report to the Election Commission.