KPCC moves EC to derecognise BJP for calling bandh

Karnataka Congress today filed a complaint with the Election Commission seeking derecognition of Bharatiya Janata Party in the state claiming that by sponsoring a bandh on January 22, the ruling party had violated an undertaking given at the time of registration.

Bharatiya Janata Party had violated its undertaking as per 29-A (5) proviso of the Representation of the People Act in calling for the bandh and was liable to be derecognised or deregistered in the state, chairman of the Legal and Human Rights wing of the state Congress C M Dhananjaya told a press conference here.

The state-wide bandh called by the BJP to protest Governor H R Bhardwaj’s sanction to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on charges of corruption has caused lot of hardship to people and also loss to the exchequer, he said in the complaint.

Dhananjaya also cited a Kerala High Court order which had said complaints seeking derecognition of parties that call for bandh or hartal can be made to the Election Commission.

He said the Electoral authorities here have told him that the complaint will be forwarded to the Chief Election Commissioner.