Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ban BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje from taking part in any election campaigns in the state.

Shobha Karandlaje, who is the head of BJP’s Election Management Committee in Karnataka, recently wrote a letter to its candidates, party works and election agents. In the letter, she requested them to provide the details of sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations, so that security arrangements will be made in the necessary booths.

Soon after seeing the letter, Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to launch an attack on the BJP and said that there is a malicious intention in the letter. The ex-CM of Karnataka asked whether the assembly elects are being held by the Election Commission or the BJP.

In a series of tweets, Siddaramaiah wrote, Elections are held in the state by Election Commission? Bharatiya Janata Party? Party officials will decide What about sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations? @BJP4Karnataka Polling stations with pro and anti voters? #AssemblyElection2023.”

The Congress leader alleged that the BJP is intimidating the voters of the opposition party with the pretext of security. Siddu tweeted, “The malicious intent of this letter is to intimidate the voters by deputing the central forces in the polling booths where there are voters who are not in favour of their @BJP4Karnataka party under the guise of security and prevent them from voting.”

Siddaramaiah asked, “Isn’t the Election Commission responsible for webcasting and video recording at polling booths? Who gave permission to the political party to run this? Seeing that the Union Minister @ShobhaBJP herself has written this letter, it is clear that the Union @BJP4India government is involved in this illegal activity.” Urging a ban on Shobha Karandlaje, Siddaramaiah wrote, “The Central Election Commissioner should immediately intervene and interrogate the Minister @ShobhaBJP and ban her from participating in any election campaign. They should seize the information they get from party leaders and candidates.”