New Delhi, Nov 10 (NationPress) Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka State President, D.K. Shivakumar, on Monday presented a box containing 1.12 crore signature forms to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, collected during a signature campaign addressing alleged vote theft by the BJP.

One box was symbolically submitted to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, while the remaining boxes were handed over to AICC General Secretary Netta D'Souza at the new AICC facility.

During a media briefing at the newly inaugurated AICC building, Indira Bhavan in Delhi, Dy CM Shivakumar stated: “The Election Commission has committed injustice. Karnataka was the first state to identify vote theft, and irregularities have now surfaced in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Bihar as well.”

“We have ceremonially handed over the documents from the signature collection campaign to our National President Mallikarjun Kharge. A century ago, Mahatma Gandhi undertook a similar responsibility, and today, our own Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka is stepping into that role,” he added.

“Under his leadership, we are advocating for the citizens' right to vote, fighting for the principle of 'one person, one vote'. Our state was the first to uncover this vote theft. The AICC research division, our candidate Mansoor Ali Khan, and the KPCC team collectively exposed these malpractices and alerted the AICC,” he elaborated.

“Our leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge launched this campaign from Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Subsequently, election irregularities in Maharashtra and Haryana were unveiled, and the movement expanded to Bihar. This campaign was completed under the guidance of AICC general secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala,” he noted.

“We have submitted the signatures gathered through the dedicated efforts of our party members, block and district presidents, and various party units. We have fulfilled our responsibility. Recently, the Chief Minister and I held a press conference regarding this matter. Our workers are continuing the campaign, and we will soon present the next batch of signatures,” he stated.

“Vote theft has undoubtedly occurred. When an FIR was lodged in Bihar, why did the court intervene and issue directives? Following Rahul Gandhi's initial press conference on this, the media came to Bengaluru for fact-checking — verifying the number of residences mentioned and the precise locations of the irregularities. No government will acknowledge its own failures. It is the duty of the Opposition to identify and expose those failures,” he asserted.

In response to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remark about “terrorists inside the Vidhana Soudha (state legislature),” Shivakumar questioned: “Is Kumaraswamy himself among those terrorists? Wasn’t he also present in the Vidhana Soudha? This applies to him, his party members, and even his administration.”

“The Election Commission has not delivered adequate justice to the voters of Bihar. The BJP has exploited constitutional institutions. Regardless of other matters, one's conscience always remains — and ultimately, that conscience will prevail,” he emphasized.

“This agitation extended to Bihar, Haryana, and Maharashtra in subsequent stages. Today, our workers, block and district presidents, and representatives from various organizations have participated in the signature campaign. We have come to Delhi with signatures as directed by AICC National General Secretary and MP K.C. Venugopal,” Dy CM Shivakumar concluded.

“The BJP is misusing internal agencies and attempting to manipulate matters. If I speak about it, it may take a different direction. We are cautious. Ultimately, you have to consider your conscience concerning what is happening. This is why Rahul Gandhi ji and all our leaders have taken to the streets.”

“We are unequivocally aware that misuse of power has occurred. The Election Commission has not provided justice to Bihar voters,” he reiterated.

“I advocate for democracy, the right to vote, and the safeguarding of the Constitution,” he concluded.

AICC Secretary Abhishek Dutt, KPCC Working President Dr. G.C. Chandrashekar, Campaign Committee Chairman Vinay Sorake, and others were present during this event.