Recently, the single-headed bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav of the Karanataka High Court has agrees to hrear a petition on 28th July, challenging the election of the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Assembly from Varuna constituency.

The petition was filed by KM Shankara, a private citizen from the constituency. 

Justice Yadav directs the petitioner to comply with the office objections raised to the petition.

The petition blames the election manifesto of the Congress party which promised five 'guarantees' as 'corrupt practices amounting to bribery and also undue influence under Section 123(2) of the Representation of the People Act."

"The said guarantees are in the nature of offer and promises made by the candidate and by the Indian National Congress party. This was done with the consent of the respondent (Siddaramaiah). They are in the form of gratification to the electorate of Varuna Constituency and with the object of directly inducing the electorate to vote for the Congress party candidate namely the respondent. The consideration was the vote in favour of the Respondent as a gratification with the motive and reward.", said the Petitioner.

Senior advocate Pramila Nesargi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted to the court that everyone who sought votes in the name of the five guarantees are guilty of breaking the model code of conduct but only Siddaramaiah has been made a respondent as an example.

"All the persons' names which find a place in the manifesto are all jointly and severally responsible for the corrupt practice of 123(1) and 123(2) of the RP Act," the petition says.