Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya (SP)

Mandya, Mar 31: State chief electoral officer, Sanjiv Kumar, said that the election commission is scrutinising the alleged administrative lapse on the part of the district election officer about the validity of the nomination filed in Mandya constituency by JD(S) candidate, Nikhil Kumaraswamy. He said that if it is found that there were lapse, investigation would be conducted.

The state election commissioner visited Mandya on Saturday and conducted scrutiny relying on the dispute over acceptance of Nikhil's nomination. After holding meeting with district election officer and other officials, he told the media persons that the nomination process has been completed, and district electoral officer has admitted the nomination. "This process is a closed chapter now. We will check for administrative lapses if any. I have noted about the complaint of one-sided move of the electoral officer. The complainants, if they feel that the nomination papers were defective, have the liberty to go to the court," he clarified.

Sumalatha Ambareesh, Nikhil Kumaraswamy

Sumalatha Ambareesh, who had complained to the election commission, alleging that the video CD about nomination scrutiny has been meddled with, is now considering the option of moving the court. A clear decision might come out on Sunday. In the meantime, deputy commissioner, N Manjushree, has refused to answer questions like why the objection raised by Sumalatha's election agent, Madan, during scrutiny of nominations was not heard, why written complaint was sought, and why after written complaint was made, it was said that it was not filed on time. There are also no answers to other questions like delay in providing video footage to the complainants by a day, why the CD given to complainants was doctored etc.

She said that as per rule, objections should be filed before scrutiny of nominations. She claimed that Madan objected after the scrutiny. "I gave an endorsement about the time having lapsed, and told the concerned that they can question defects in affidavit as claimed, in the courts. We were asked to provide video of nomination scrutiny, which has been provided," she stated.

In the meanwhile, in reply to notice served by the deputy commissioner of the district relating to allegations made by her against the election officials, Sumalatha stressed that what she said were in tune with what actually happened and are true. She stated that the way the deputy commissioner and her staff have been behaving, and their conduct since the beginning, were stated by her. She also said that the notice served by the deputy commissioner to her is illegal. 

Row over EVM number

Supporters of Sumalatha Ambareesh are also up in arms against the decision of the election officer to allot No. 01 to Nikhil Kumaraswamy and 20 to Sumalatha in electronic voting machines. The supporters of Sumalatha insist that it is illegal to allot serial No. 01 to regional party candidate. They have alleged that district election officer and deputy commissioner, N Manjushree, is engaged in committing irregularities on account of pressure brought on her by chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, with the sole aim of creating confusion among the voters. They point out that one electronic voting machine can contain only 16 names and therefore, Sumalatha's name will be in the second machine and this can confuse voters. Sumalatha said that her name will be among three other Sumalathas who are fighting as independents with one of these names above her and two others below her name. She feels that this is a conspiracy to confuse voters.

BSP complains

Nanjundaswamy, candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party from here also said that there were irregularities in allotting serial number. He pointed out that national parties should be awarded the first number but the election officer has given this number to a regional party candidate. He claimed that BSP being a national party should have been given No. 01 and not 02.