The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 4 May 2025, launched a sharp attack on Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his remarks on the Sringeri Assembly constituency recount, terming them "childish" and alleging they amount to an insult to the Constitution and the judiciary. The criticism followed the completion of a court-ordered reverification and recount of postal ballots in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, after which the BJP claimed victory in the seat.

BJP's Counterattack on Shivakumar

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi T. Narayanaswamy, issued a statement saying Shivakumar's comments were not merely politically motivated but reflected "the peak of frustration" on the part of the Indian National Congress (Congress). He accused the party of being unable to accept the outcome and resorting to what he described as "false narratives".

Addressing Shivakumar directly, Narayanaswamy said that while political disappointment is understandable, it should not come at the cost of undermining the dignity of the judiciary. He urged the Congress to accept the people's verdict and refrain from making allegations against officials and BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj.

Recount Conducted Under High Court Orders

The BJP leader questioned Shivakumar's alleged description of the recount process as a "criminal activity", emphasising that the exercise had been carried out strictly in accordance with the Karnataka High Court's directions. "By terming it a criminal act, he is indirectly questioning the judiciary itself. Such a stubborn attitude is harmful to democracy," Narayanaswamy said.

He further alleged that the Congress lacks faith in both the electoral process and judicial institutions, and claimed the party has a history of targeting constitutional bodies whenever election results do not go in its favour. Notably, the Sringeri seat falls under Chikkamagaluru district, and the recount had been a closely watched legal and political flashpoint since the 2023 state polls.

BJP Claims Recount Exposed Vote Manipulation

Referring to the outcome, Narayanaswamy said the recount had exposed what he called attempts at "vote manipulation", adding that the result was a reflection of the truth. He also invoked a Kannada literary line to suggest that when truth is evident, attempts to mislead the public will not succeed.

The BJP leader dismissed allegations of misuse of officials as "baseless", stating that a process conducted under the supervision of the court leaves no scope for bias. He also described the Congress' indication of pursuing a legal battle as an attempt to "cover up defeat", and said questioning the transparency of postal ballot counting amounts to casting doubt on the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

What Shivakumar Had Said

Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar had on Sunday alleged that a "large-scale conspiracy and systematic crime" had taken place in the Sringeri constituency, calling it a blot on the country and democracy. His remarks set off the BJP's sharp rebuttal and are likely to intensify the political standoff over the seat's final outcome.

With the Congress signalling a continued legal fight and the BJP asserting a court-supervised vindication, the Sringeri dispute is far from settled and will likely remain a flashpoint in Karnataka's already charged political landscape.