Objecting to the Karnataka government’s claims that the Election Commission of India has relaxed the model code of conduct and allowed it to take up development works, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) should immediately withdraw any such permission, if given.

In a letter to the CEC, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa has said the State government on Wednesday claimed that the CEC has relaxed the model code of conduct and permitted it to take up development works related to infrastructure, services, and purchase.

“The government has also claimed that CEC has given permission to float and finalise tenders on this score. If any such permission is given, it should be withdrawn immediately and Karnataka should be asked to strictly abide by the election code of conduct,” the letter stated.

Pointing out that as an accepted norm the model code of conduct will be in force till the completion of election process and notification of the results, Mr. Yeddyurappa in the letter said, “Even if it is assumed that elections in Karnataka are over, the decisions of the State government on various projects will have their ramifications in others States where elections are under progress. The CEC should also direct the State government to annul all decisions taken by it in these two days.”