Cong, BJP trade charges over recovery of voter I-cards in K'tka

The recovery of nearly 10,000 voter identity cards from a flat in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency in Karnataka set off a war of words between the Congress and the BJP, with both accusing each other of being behind it and petitioning the Election Commission seeking action and countermanding of the poll.

The row erupted three days before the May 12 polls with the Congress accusing the BJP of "stage managing" the recovery of the I-cards in a "fake midnight drama".

The BJP, on the other hand, accused the Congress of speaking a "lie" and demanded that the poll for the seat be countermanded. It also accused the Congress of trying to influence the assembly polls in Karnataka.

Both the major contenders for power in the southern state also claimed that the flat from which the recovery was made belonged to a woman associated with the rival party.

The parties also sent high-level delegations to the EC and presented memorandum to it.

The BJP delegation included union ministers JP Nadda, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Smriti Irani, SS Ahluwalia, Dharmendra Pradhan and the party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi. It told the EC that scrapping the poll in the constituency was necessary to "reinstate people's faith" in the electoral process.

Briefing reporters after meeting the poll panel officials, Nadda said, "We have demanded countermanding of the election in Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency in Karnataka."