Has K'taka Cong Gathered Evidence on Poll Irregularities for Rahul?

Bengaluru, July 30 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar has asserted that the KPCC research team has gathered significant evidence regarding alleged electoral fraud and shared it with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In a conversation with journalists in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Shivakumar noted, "Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Bengaluru on August 5. We are still in discussions about this — I prefer not to reveal specifics at this moment. He will provide comprehensive insights... he possesses additional information."

"Our research team has compiled substantial data on the alleged electoral malpractices. It was our group that highlighted these irregularities to him. He is visiting Bengaluru concerning this matter," he elaborated.

"I am extending an invitation to all MLAs, block-level Congress leaders, ministers, and senior party members to participate in the gathering on August 5. Additionally, AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala will arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday. He has also arranged a meeting with office bearers and district heads. I am organizing a separate session with leaders from the Bengaluru division to provide directives," stated Shivakumar.

"I will inform you later whether this will take the form of a protest or a demonstration," he added.

"Our extensive research has unveiled how the electoral malpractice transpired, and my leader (Rahul Gandhi) will disclose all the specifics. This isn’t solely about Bihar or any other state — the focal point is the misuse of votes. Instances of vote theft occurred, and during the Karnataka assembly elections, our candidate H. Nagesh brought this issue to light — yet no action was taken," he asserted.

It is worth mentioning that Nagesh contested from the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bengaluru during the 2023 elections as a Congress candidate but lost to BJP candidate Manjula S. by a substantial margin of 44,501 votes.

“Nonetheless, we secured several seats, apart from that one. We have now conducted a detailed investigation through our team. While we could have examined the entire state, we concentrated on specific constituencies. I prefer to keep the details under wraps for now. My leader will unveil everything,” Shivakumar remarked.

Later, Shivakumar convened a preparatory meeting with Bengaluru division leaders and office-bearers at Bharat Jodo Bhavan on Wednesday night.

Addressing the attendees, he emphasized: "We must educate the public about the irregularities that transpired during the elections in our state and the injustices perpetrated by the Election Commission. We must be prepared to safeguard our votes and rights."

"Presently, discussions surrounding voting, polling booths, and electoral rolls are prominent in the country’s democratic framework. Even within our state, during the assembly elections, we investigated electoral malpractices.

"The BJP attempted to execute irregularities by exploiting Chilume and other entities. We were unable to completely halt these actions. The BJP issued Election Commission ID cards to their affiliates and unlawfully altered the voter list in Bengaluru. Consequently, the voter turnout in Bengaluru was significantly compromised," Shivakumar alleged.

"There is a pervasive national dialogue regarding electoral malpractices, with considerable debate surrounding incidents in states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. We need to raise awareness among the public regarding this issue," Shivakumar concluded.