Belagavi: BJP Leader Ashok Pujari staged a dharna on April 5, at the premises of the District Electoral Office here alleging that the election officer and tahsildar of Gokak Taluk had failed to implement the election Model Code of Conduct. He said that the election officials were working under political pressure.

According to Ashok, District In-charge Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi had arranged a meeting of the party workers at his residence without the permission of the election officer. He alleged that the minister had arranged meals for more than 5000 party workers who attended the meeting. He also said that over 300 vehicles with Congress party symbol were parked at the minister’s house.

Ashok accused that the tahsildar of Gokak had not taken any action against this public meeting for the entire day. He said that the election officer also refused to furnish the copy of the permission certificate given to conduct the event at the premise of the minister. The BJP leader alleged that a simple case was booked in the evening and this showed that the official was working under pressure from the powerful minister.

The BJP leader staged a protest demanding for an impartial special election officer for the sensitive Gokak constituency.