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Bangalore, May 13: The BJP on Monday filed a complaint with the election commission seeking disqualification of Congress candidates from the fray for allegedly misusing the national flag in its campaign material which, according to the BJP, is a clear case of violation of poll code of conduct.

Addressing a press conference here, State BJP spokesman Suresh Kumar said the Congress had used the national flag in the CD it produced for campaigning, which it said, was an offence under Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act of 1971.

“We want the Election Commission to seize all the CDs and initiate action against the Congress taking cognizance of the offence,” Kumar demanded.

“The national flag does not belong to the Congress party. How can it use it in its publicity material?” Kumar asked.

He also took exception to the footage of prime ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh, being used in the CD to claim credit for the Congress.

Taking a dig at JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda for stressing on the need for compulsory voting, the BJP demanded an explanation from the former prime minister as to why he and his party MLAs did not cast their votes in the presidential elections held last year.

He also criticised the Congress and JD(S) for politicising the Hubli court blast in issue.