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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, August 9, announced that his government will investigate allegations of electoral fraud during the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Speaking to reporters at Mysuru airport, Siddaramaiah was responding to questions on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s demand for action on the issue.
At a protest rally in Bengaluru on August 8, Rahul Gandhi had urged the CM to probe alleged election fraud in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment and other constituencies, and to initiate legal proceedings against those involved in “stealing” votes.
“Legal action will be taken based on the recommendations,” Siddaramaiah said, adding that the matter would be examined before the upcoming Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls. He said the Advocate General would be asked to conduct the inquiry swiftly and submit a report.
However, the CM noted that the Election Commission has full authority over the electoral roll.
Asked about former minister CM Ibrahim’s allegation that 3,000 votes were bought in Badami in 2018 to ensure his victory, Siddaramaiah said: “Ibrahim is not from our party. I only went to Badami for nomination and campaigning. I won with a margin of 1,600 votes. This is new information to me, and I know nothing about it.”
Responding to BJP criticism over the Congress raising concerns now, he said: “The BJP is making false claims to hide their own wrongdoings. Our internal survey predicted we would win 16 Lok Sabha seats, but we won only 9. Rahul Gandhi’s claims are evidence-based. All relevant documents are with the State and Central Election Commissions. Is it really possible for 80 people to live in one small room? We learnt of these facts only after studying the matter.”
On whether the judiciary should take suo motu action to restore public trust in the Election Commission, Siddaramaiah said: “We have always maintained that manipulation happens during elections — whether in EVMs or voter rolls. In my opinion, Rahul Gandhi’s claims in the media are true.”
Asked about an old speech of his — now viral on social media — in which he allegedly said even dead people had voted in a by-election, he replied: “If dead people have voted, who is responsible? The Election Commission is directly accountable.”
The CM also dismissed BJP’s claim that he won because IAS officer Raymond Peter was appointed observer in 2006. “Had Peter not been there, they might have defeated me,” he said.
In 2006, after being expelled from the JD(S) and joining the Congress, Siddaramaiah contested the Chamundeshwari by-election to reaffirm his political strength. He won by a narrow margin of 257 votes against JD(S) candidate, the late M Shivabasappa.