Bengaluru: The Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has petitioned the Election Commission to direct Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is set to present the State Budget on March 15, to desist from announcing any populist schemes and thus swaying the voters of two Assembly constituencies that will see by-lections on April 9.

The BJP has said that any announcement of populist schemes in the budget would influence the voters in Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies. In its petition, the party has termed this electoral malpractice. “You will agree that the elections are to be fought on a level-playing field in a fair and just atmosphere. Announcement of populist schemes will alter this level-playing field and put the Opposition parties at a disadvantage,” the petition says.

Stating that it was not opposed to the budget presentation, the BJP unit has demanded that the Chief Minister not mention populist schemes in it.