Bengaluru, Oct 12 (PTI) The NDA on Monday lodged a complaint with the Karnataka CEO, alleging that Education Department officials were pressuring teachers and educational institutions to support Congress candidate Puttanna in the Bangalore Teachers’ Constituency election.
The Bangalore Teachers’ Constituency is among the four Legislative Council seats going to polls on October 23. The results will be declared on October 27.
The BJP’s National Democratic Alliance ally JD(S) is contesting the seat and has fielded A P Ranganath against sitting Congress MLC Puttanna.
In its complaint, the NDA alleged that personnel attached to the offices of Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs), Deputy Directors of Pre-University Education (DDPUs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs), along with Education Coordinators, Block Resource Persons, Cluster Resource Persons and other field-level functionaries, were directly or indirectly mobilising support for the Congress candidate.
The complaint alleged that teachers, staff members and management of educational institutions, particularly private unaided institutions, were being approached and pressured to support Puttanna. Some of them were allegedly apprehensive of adverse administrative consequences if they failed to comply.
The NDA said the allegations were particularly serious given the supervisory, regulatory and administrative authority exercised by Education Department officials over schools, colleges, teachers and their managements.
It contended that the involvement of officials exercising administrative control over teacher-electors could undermine their freedom to vote according to their conscience and compromise the level playing field in the election.
Citing Rules 3 and 5 of the Karnataka State Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, the NDA said government servants were required to maintain political neutrality and impartiality, and that the rules prohibited them from canvassing or using their influence in connection with elections.
The alliance alleged that government machinery must not be used, directly or indirectly, to advance the electoral prospects of a candidate belonging to the ruling party. It called for a clear separation between the state administration and political campaigning.
Seeking the Chief Electoral Office’s immediate intervention, the NDA urged the election authorities to issue written directions across the constituency to all DDPIs, DDPUs, BEOs and subordinate personnel, prohibiting them from canvassing, soliciting votes, mobilising support or attempting to influence teachers and institutional management in favour of any candidate.
It also sought a ban on the use of official meetings, departmental WhatsApp groups, government offices, vehicles, subordinate personnel and other public resources for electioneering.
The complaint called for an independent inquiry into the allegations against individual officials, arguing that the complaints should not simply be referred to the same departmental hierarchy against which the grievances had been raised.
The NDA sought confidentiality and protection against retaliation for teachers and institutional management providing information, citing concerns over possible harassment, unnecessary inspections, transfers or other adverse administrative action.
Where prima facie evidence of canvassing, intimidation or misuse of official position is established, the alliance urged the authorities to remove the officials concerned from election-related duties and initiate appropriate disciplinary and legal action.
The NDA said the complaint was intended to ensure a free and fair electoral process and not to secure an electoral advantage for any candidate.
Expressing confidence in the election authorities, the alliance urged them to take prompt preventive action, stating that pressure exerted by officials exercising administrative control over teachers could undermine the freedom of the electoral process and that such interference might not be possible to remedy after polling. PTI KSU SSK
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