The Karnataka High Court issued a stay order on Bengaluru civic body's circular that prevented hotels from offering free and discounted food to voters after voting in the Karnataka Assembly elections today.
After many hotels came up with the offer, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had prohibited serving of free food on election day after voting. The State Election Commission had also warned hotels of strict action on this count.
The hotel owners association argued that it wasn't a political move and food was being offered to encourage voting and imposing restrictions on it was not right.
“This was not a politically motivated offer. We did it to encourage people to vote. We did the same during the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2018, 3,900 voters made use of it and 5,100 voters availed this offer during the 2019 elections,” Krishnaraja, owner of Nisarga Grand Hotel on Nrupathunga road, was quoted as saying by media reports.
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Hotel Nisarga had offered to provide free benne dosa (butter dosa), Mysore pak and cool drinks to voters after voting. Chalukya Samrat Cafe on Church Street decided to provide free breakfast to voters too, according to reports.
With a similar intention, the Kodagu district administration said that it would allow entry to tourist places only if people go there after voting on polling day. A statement from the office of Deputy Director of Tourism in Madikeri said eligible voters from Karnataka can enter Raja Seat, Sunny Side Museum, Abbey Falls and Mallalli Falls between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. only after they have cast their votes.
