In the wake of controversy regarding the alleged leak of Karnataka Assembly poll dates, the Shiv Sena attacked Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that the pillars of democracy were being “desecrated”.
Shiv Sena also took on the Election Commission, alleging that the EC was working under pressure from the government.
In the editorial of its mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena said, “It was believed that the Election Commission would be impartial, however, it is not so, (this) has been proved in the run up to the Karnataka polls. The EC is working under pressure from the government, is what the opposition claims and it has been proven true by the BJP.”
On 27 March, the BJP IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, tweeted that voting in Karnataka will be held on May 12 and the counting will take place on May 18, even before the official announcement of Karnataka poll dates were made by Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat.
The Sena, according to PTI, said, “Somebody called Amit Malviya from the BJPs IT cell released the election date even before the EC could announce it.”
“Is it that the information was leaked through somebody or is it that the EC has decided to work as per the suitability of the BJP?” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
Amit Malviya was correct about the day of the voting, but got the counting date wrong. The counting will take place on May 15.
(With agency inputs)