Why is K'taka BJP Criticizing Rahul Gandhi for His Opposition to Voter List Revision in Bihar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP's Critique: The Karnataka BJP is vocal against Congress's opposition to voter list revisions.
- Electoral Integrity: Special revisions aim to eliminate fake voters.
- Historical Context: Previous incidents highlight ongoing issues in electoral politics.
- Congress's Frustration: Allegations stem from electoral defeat.
- Call for Investigation: Vijayendra urges Congress to examine specific constituencies for fraud.
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (NationPress) Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra questioned the rationale behind Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party's opposition to the special comprehensive revision of the voters' list in Bihar, despite their accusations against the Union government for voting irregularities.
At a press conference held at the State BJP Office, Jagannath Bhavan, Vijayendra remarked that Rahul Gandhi publicly asserted on Thursday that there were irregularities during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections across the nation, including accusations of voters' list manipulation and the presence of fraudulent voters.
“In light of Rahul Gandhi's comments, senior Congress figures in our state have made nonsensical statements. They have called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign and for the Lok Sabha to be dissolved—these are utterly baseless remarks,” Vijayendra stated.
“The Election Commission carries out special revisions of the electoral rolls specifically to tackle issues of fake and illegal voters. So why oppose such revisions in Bihar?” he inquired.
He recounted an incident from 2005 when the late Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, and Mamata Banerjee, then part of the NDA, raised concerns in the Lok Sabha about illegal immigrants from Bangladesh appearing on West Bengal's voters' list.
“When she brought this up, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee dismissed her with contempt. Has Rahul Gandhi forgotten this?” he asked.
Furthermore, Vijayendra dismissed Rahul Gandhi's assertion that all surveys indicated Congress would secure 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. “No survey supported that claim. Congress leaders must have misinformed him,” he remarked.
He pointed out that in 2019, under the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa, the BJP sent 25 MPs from Karnataka to the Lok Sabha. “Considering this, should BJP now allege irregularities due to fewer seats won this time?” he questioned.
Addressing Rahul Gandhi's comments about high voting rates between 5 and 6 p.m., Vijayendra stated this is standard nationwide, as the temperatures drop and all parties strive to mobilize voters during the final hour.
He added that Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders are acting out of frustration following their electoral defeat, noting that any objections should have been formally submitted within 45 days of the results.
“The Congress candidate from Bangalore Central missed the opportunity to raise concerns. Congress has devolved into a party of fools,” he remarked.
Regarding allegations of electoral fraud in the Mahadevapura assembly constituency, Vijayendra challenged Rahul Gandhi, CM Siddaramaiah, and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to investigate the number of fraudulent voters in constituencies with large minority populations like Chamrajpet and Shivajinagar before engaging in discussions.
“The Congress-led state government lacks the strength to confront the Opposition (BJP, JD-S) in Parliament and is avoiding pressing issues,” he concluded.
“Rahul Gandhi's ambition to become the Prime Minister will remain just that—a mere dream. There is evident inconsistency in his statements and positions,” Vijayendra emphasized.