The election to the Rajarajeswari Assembly constituency in Karnataka has been deferred to May 28, the Election Commission announced on Friday. Counting of votes polled in this constituency will take place on May 31.

The Commission’s decision comes after complaints were received from the constituency about distribution of money, gifts and other materials among the voters. While several items were seized, two incidents — one concerning seizure of a truck carrying goods worth about ₹95 lakh on May 6, and another relating to the seizure of thousands of Voter ID cards, photo voter slips, laptops, survey forms among others on May 8 — were considered serious by the poll panel.

Besides, allegations and counter-allegations were made to the Commission by the BJP and the Congress soon after the incidents were reported from the constituency.

The Commission directed the State’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to visit the constituency along with the Police Commissioner, Bengaluru, and submit a report. The EC has also decided to despatch the Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) to Bengaluru to examine the CEO’s report.

In his report, the DEC mentioned a number of cases lodged against various accused, including candidates, concerning the seizure of material relating to the assembly constituency. The report also described two specific cases — a consignment of 5,018 t-shirts with the photo and name of the Congress candidate, and 23,393 half-pants seized on May 6. Following investigations, the Returning Officer had issued a notice to the Congress candidate as the candidate had taken permission only for 500 such t-shirts.

The DEC concluded from the available facts and circumstances that there appeared to be a planned design to induce voters, thus vitiating the poll process.

The CEO, in his report, said that 9,564 EPIC cards of voters in the constituency were kept in bundles with each bundle being labelled with specific names and mobile numbers.

The Commission’s order on Friday says there is a definite inference that all the seized gift items and collection of EPIC cards were likely for large-scale inducement of voters.

The order adds that the seizure of 9,564 Electoral Photo Identity Cards, Photo Voters Slips, laptops and other material from a flat in the constituency is clearly an attempt to induce voters in a “systematic and planned manner” and thereby “vitiating” the process of elections in the Assembly constituency.

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