Former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is contesting a by-election from the Chamundeshwari Assembly segment (Mysore) as a Congress candidate, has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to replace the Mysore district administration staff as he fears the polls may not be conducted in a free and fair manner. | |
| "The coalition government is misusing the official machinery to favour its candidates in the elections. I will urge the ECI to adopt the Bihar poll model wherein election officials and observers were brought from other states," he told reporters here on Tuesday. |
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| The election has been necessitated due to Siddaramaiah's resignation from this Assembly segment prior to joining Congress. He had won the election on a JD(S) ticket. The ECI is yet to announce the calendar of events for the by-election. |
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| "The government has posted officials to favour the coalition candidates. I am not hopeful of the elections being held in a fair manner," he added. |
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