Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting a “vote dacoity” during the recent Lok Sabha elections, specifically referencing events in Sringeri, Chikmagalur district. He alleges a deliberate attempt to manipulate the counting process by replacing ballot units during the transportation phase.
Siddaramaiah claims that discrepancies were observed during the counting process, with discrepancies noted between the number of votes recorded in the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips and the electronic voting machines (EVMs). He points to a specific incident where a returning officer reportedly noticed discrepancies in a ballot unit’s seal and reported it to superiors.
The Chief Minister asserts that the BJP, fearing defeat, orchestrated a criminal conspiracy to alter the election results. He alleges that individuals were tasked with replacing EVM units during transit, potentially swapping them with pre-programmed machines. He further states that the returning officer who raised concerns was subsequently transferred, indicating an attempt to suppress the issue.
Siddaramaiah has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and a probe into the transfer of the returning officer. He has also called for a re-count of votes in Sringeri and Chikmagalur, expressing a lack of faith in the current results.
The allegations center around the Sringeri Assembly segment within the Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency, where the BJP’s B.N. Prahlad won by a narrow margin. Siddaramaiah believes that if the alleged manipulation is proven, it could significantly alter the election outcome in the constituency. He has framed the situation as a threat to the democratic process and a serious breach of electoral integrity. The Congress party has echoed these concerns, demanding a comprehensive inquiry. The ECI has yet to respond officially to the specific allegations.
