Kolar, Nov 11 (NationPress) The vote recount process in Karnataka's Malur Assembly Constituency commenced at the Horticulture University campus in Kolar city on Tuesday.

Prohibitory orders have been enforced in the vicinity of the counting hub.

The recount began at 8 a.m., with CCTV cameras set up both inside and outside the venue.

Media personnel are barred from entering the recount center, while representatives from political parties can only gain access after rigorous checks.

Importantly, the Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to carry out the recount and present the findings in a sealed envelope.

Previously, the Karnataka High Court annulled the election of K. Y. Nanjegowda, the Congress MLA from Malur, during the 2023 Assembly elections, citing significant transparency issues in the electoral process.

The court mandated a vote recount in the constituency, with a directive to finish within four weeks.

The recount request was initiated by BJP leader K. S. Manjunath Gowda, who lost to Nanjegowda by a mere 248 votes in 2023.

The Supreme Court temporarily stayed the High Court's ruling on October 14, allowing Nanjegowda to remain as MLA for the time being.

Prior to the recount, a BJP delegation met with the Kolar District Deputy Commissioner on Monday to present a memorandum.

Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, highlighted the narrow victory margin in the constituency.

He accused certain individuals of interfering during the counting, which led to the BJP candidate's defeat, claiming no recount was conducted at that time.

"At the last moment, our BJP polling agents were forcibly removed. Due to these events, we had our doubts, which is why we approached the court, leading to the current order. The case eventually reached the Supreme Court," he detailed.

He further remarked, "In any counting process, there is always camera surveillance. Other constituencies in the state have recorded footage - why is it absent for Malur?"

Narayanaswamy also pointed out discrepancies in the vote tally, which raised additional concerns.

"The Deputy Commissioner has assured us that the counting will be conducted with fairness and transparency," he added.

He concluded, "We understand the larger dynamics at play across the country and the actions of the Congress party."

He emphasized that the BJP insisted on conducting the recount under camera supervision and requested that anyone attempting to exert undue influence be kept at bay.

Narayanaswamy remarked, "If T. N. Seshan had not been the Election Commissioner, this country would never have recognized the Election Commission as an independent constitutional entity."