The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has decided to investigate a significant reduction in votes for its candidate in the Davanagere Lok Sabha constituency during the recent elections. Despite a strong showing in the Assembly elections held a year prior, the Congress candidate, H. L. Iranna, experienced a substantial drop in vote share compared to the party’s performance in the 2023 state polls.
Specifically, the Congress secured 49.28% of the votes in the 2023 Assembly elections in Davanagere, winning two of the three Assembly segments. However, in the Lok Sabha election, Iranna received only 38.48% of the vote share, losing to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Gayathri Siddiquesha. This decline has raised concerns within the party about potential internal sabotage or voter apathy.
KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar announced the formation of a committee led by KPCC working president B.H. Vasanth Kumar to conduct a thorough inquiry. The committee will examine various factors contributing to the vote reduction, including potential discrepancies in voter turnout, alleged irregularities during polling, and the effectiveness of the party’s campaign strategy.
The investigation will focus on identifying if there was a deliberate effort to undermine the Congress candidate’s chances, potentially involving party workers or local leaders. The committee has been instructed to submit its report within a week.
Shivakumar emphasized that the party views this issue seriously and will take appropriate action based on the committee’s findings. He also noted that similar investigations are being considered in other constituencies where the party experienced unexpected or unfavorable results. The goal is to understand the reasons behind the performance and implement corrective measures for future elections. The party suspects a possible disconnect between Assembly election strategies and Lok Sabha election dynamics in Davanagere.
