In a dramatic escalation of Karnataka’s electoral drama, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has accused the BJP of orchestrating a blatant tampering of postal ballots during the Shringeri constituency’s vote recount. The allegations surfaced after BJP’s DN Javaraj snatched victory from Congress’s TD Rajegowda in what Shivakumar calls a ‘heinous crime against democracy.’
Addressing the media from CM Siddaramaiah’s ‘Krishna’ residence, Shivakumar painted a picture of procedural sabotage. Postal ballots, he explained, undergo scrutiny with party agents and officials present, yet somehow, post-validation alterations favored the BJP. ‘We’ve insisted on recounting certain vote bundles, and the involvement of officials and Javaraj is evident,’ he charged, promising an unrelenting courtroom fight.
Shivakumar didn’t mince words, deeming this the ‘largest plot in India’s electoral history’ and calling on the Election Commission for immediate action. He took a swipe at BJP’s tactics in Karnataka, declaring, ‘We know how politics is played.’ CM Siddaramaiah backed him, alleging a full-blown ‘criminal plot’ in ballot handling.
On the other side, Javaraj celebrated his hard-fought win, obtained after years of litigation stemming from 2023 count disputes. ‘This is truth’s victory,’ he proclaimed upon receiving his certificate. The recount exposed anomalies in discarded votes, bolstering his claim.
As the dust settles, this controversy highlights vulnerabilities in India’s vote verification systems, especially for postal ballots crucial in rural pockets like Shringeri. Congress’s legal push could set precedents, while BJP dismisses the claims as sour grapes, intensifying the state’s partisan divide ahead of future polls.
