Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, Mar 28: According to the Election Commission's order setting up an inquiry into the alleged leak of Karnataka poll dates, only the Congress activist Srivatsa B, who heads the party's social media cell in Karnataka will be questioned. While BJP's Amit Malviya will not be questioned or investigated over the alleged leak by the poll panel because the BJP has already explained.

It may be recalled that BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya and Srivatsa B, Congress social media in-charge in Karnataka tweeted the May 12 polling date before the Election Commission announced it. The EC immediately said that action will be taken against them.

The poll panel order has asked a six-member committee to enquire form Srivatsa B, regarding the source of information of his tweets on the Karnataka election schedule before its official announcement. The critics have called the inquiry a 'joke' as Malviya's name is not even mentioned in the order.

AICC convenor Priyanka Chaturvedi immediately reacted to the order and tweeted, "Dear EC, while we welcome any investigation to ensure that your credibility is not undermined however find it extremely shocking that IT head of BJP has been absolved even before enquiry begins. This definitely dents your own image and authority."

However, Election Commission says that since Malviya wrote to the poll body explaining the source of his tweet and the letter would be taken as his response. It also said that a BJP delegation met the EC officials with Malviya's letter. The BJP IT Cell chief had also deleted his tweet within moments.

He also wrote to the EC and said that he had based his tweet on television news channel.

Congress too said that Srivatsa’s tweet was also based on a news flash by a local media channel.

Karnataka will vote on May 12 and the counting and announcement of results will be held on May 15.