Hubballi: BJP MLA Anil Benake booked for poll code violation

BELAGAVI: The Election Commission registered an FIR against Belagavi North BJP MLA Anil Benake, and his three aides, for allegedly violating the model election code of conduct, here on Monday.
A presiding officer of the Vishweshwaraiah Nagar polling station has registered a complaint at the APMC police station. The incident took place during the elections for the North-West teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies. According to EC sources, Benake entered the polling station without a face mask and spoke with polling officers. He also spoke on his cell phone inside the polling station.
According to EC norms, one can’t enter a polling station without mask. Carrying mobile phones and talking to polling officers is also a violation of the model code.
Deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil said a non-voter has no provision to enter the polling station. “We have got videos of MLA Anil Benake entering the polling station at Vishweshwaraiah Nagar. I have asked the presiding officer of the polling station to file a written complaint,” he siad.
Allegation against Congress candidate
BJP MLAs Anil Benake, Abhay Patil and former minister Laxman Savadi alleged that Congress candidate of NW teachers’ constituency - Prakash Hukkeri tried to lure voters by distributing money and offering booze parties.
Abhay Patil urged the election commission to initiate action against Hukkeri, under The Representation of the People Act 1951, for allegedly distributing money. In Vijayapura, Rs 17.4 lakh has been seized by police along with pamphlets of Hukkeri. This is just the tip of the iceberg of election irregularities carried out by the Congress, he alleged.
Former deputy CM Laxman Savadi alleged that Congress has damaged the sanctity of teaching sector by distributing money to teachers for votes. MLA Benake alleged that Congress was distributing Rs 10,000 per vote. Benake denied that BJP candidates were distributing watches and silver coins.
Tough IAS officers on task
Senior IAS officers like Amlan Aditya Biswas, P Manivannan and Munish Moudgil were found in action on Monday, during the elections for NW teachers and graduates’ constituencies. Being an election officer and regional commissioner, Amlan Aditya Biswas expressed happiness as voters were peacefully casting votes. “It’s a beauty of democracy,” he said while visiting a polling station at Ganapati Galli in Belagavi.
P Manivannan, a poll observer, visited polling stations at various parts of the constituency. Observer of NW teachers’ constituency Munish Moudgil was also seen inspecting polling stations and getting details of the situation.
Belagavi DC Nitesh Patil was seen arranging desks for voters to sit at Vishweshwaraiah polling station, after he saw seniors struggling to stand in queue.