Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka): KPCC President DK Shivakumar stated that there is nothing wrong with the election officials conducting inspections when his family came to Dharmasthala temple of Dakshina Kannada district by helicopter on Saturday. He spoke to the media after having darshan of Manjunatha Swamy at Dharmasthala.
''I have great faith in God Manjunatha. God protects me and the state. I did not discuss political issues in the temple,'' Shivakumar said. He further stated that he will campaign for Congress candidate Rakshit Shivaram, who is contesting from the Belthangadi Assembly constituency.
When KPCC president DK Shivakumar's family arrived at Dharmasthala this morning on a helicopter, the election officials conducted a check as the assembly election code of conduct was in force. Following this, an altercation took place between the election officials and the pilot of the helicopter.
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DK Shivakumar's wife Usha, son, daughter and son-in-law were on board. The helicopter pilot told the election officials that this is a private helicopter and they are not allowed to check. A verbal duel took place between the helicopter pilot Ram Dass and the Election Officer. However, election officials finally conducted the inspection. While DK Shivakumar arrived in another helicopter.
The model code of conduct is in force in Karnataka, which goes to polls on May 10. The election officials had also intercepted and checked Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's car when he was on his way to a temple in Chikkaballapura district on March 31. Ever since the model code of conduct came into effect, over Rs 253 crore unaccounted cash, gold, freebies, liquor and drugs have been seized in Karnataka, according to Election Commission officials.
