Karnataka Panchayat Elections 2020: BS Yediyurappa Govt to Roll Back Law Restricting Production of Alcohol During Polls
The rule was introduced in the year 2016 during the term of Congress chief minister Siddaramiah, which had amended the Karnataka State Panchayat Act in 2016. The move was taken to ensure that alcohol was not used to influence the voters at the time of the Panchayat elections.
Bengaluru, August 7: The BS Yediyurappa government will likely scrap a law that prohibits the sale of alcohol in the state during the Panchayat polls, reported The Times of India. The liquor industry in the state of Karnataka has time and again raised the request to roll back the law as the industry suffers heavy losses during the poll period.
The rule was introduced in the year 2016 during the term of Congress chief minister Siddaramiah, which had amended the Karnataka State Panchayat Act in 2016. The move was taken to ensure that alcohol was not used to influence the voters at the time of the Panchayat elections.
“We are ready with a proposal to repeal the amendment and and are waiting for the new minister to take charge. Most likely, it will be tabled during the next assembly session," a senior official was quoted as saying.
The existing rule prohibits the sale and production of liquor at least a fortnight before the Panchayat polls. This is in contrast to assembly elections, when the prohibition in in effect 24 hours before the polls.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2019 05:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).