Congress delegation meets CEC, seeks action against 'voter fraud' in Karnataka
New Delhi, Nov 23: The Congress on Wednesday petitioned the Election Commission, demanding a detailed investigation into what it described as a "voter information theft fraud" in Karnataka under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
The party alleged that 27 lakh names had been deleted and 11 lakh voters added in the voters list, especially in Bengaluru, with "political patronage".
A delegation led by AICC general secretary in-charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and KPCC chief D K Shivakumar met the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissoners and handed over a memorandum.
Surjewala later told reporters that the EC gave them a patient hearing for over an hour and assured of strict action against those behind the voter information theft.
"The EC has taken note of all complaints and assured us that it will carry out a detailed investigation...and anyone found guilty in the scam will be dealt with sternly...," he told reporters after the meeting.
Surjewala said a deputy election commissioner has already been sent to Karnataka to probe the issue and the EC has lodged an FIR.
The EC has told the Congress leaders that action against some officials has been taken and more action is being initiated, he claimed.
"We are confident that this conspiracy to steal voter data of Karnataka people would be investigated thoroughly by the EC and stern steps taken to book the guilty," he said.
Surjewala said the delegation brought to the notice of the CEC and other ECs that a private company had taken voter data by impersonating as government employees.
"Employees of a private company are posing as booth level officers of EC and this proves that a data theft has taken place. This amounts to criminal conspiracy. As many as 27 lakh voters have been deleted and 11 lakh voters added in the voters list. Constituencies have been targeted to add votes in order to affect the election outcomes.
"The EC has assured to clean the voter lists and will not allow any deletion or addition of voters and has already lodged an FIR," the Congress leader said.
Karnataka goes to polls later next year and the Congress is seeking to wrest power back from the BJP.
"Massive addition and deletion in voter list in Bengaluru and Karnataka indicate rigging and fraud. This smacks of an apparent and serious fraud being played out under political patronage," it alleged.
The Congress said the "abnormally high number of additions and deletions" reflects that almost all constituencies of Bengaluru and certain constituencies outside the state capital were targeted.
"It goes without saying that this can only be done by and at the behest of the ruling party, i.e. the BJP. This is a blatant electoral fraud on democracy itself," the party alleged.
It termed it to be a case of "identity theft, theft of private user data, dishonest misappropriation of property, concealment and misuse of stolen property, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy".
"This is also a brazen fraud on our democratic process as votes are being added and subtracted to achieve a political outcome in favour of the ruling party," it said.
"We request an urgent investigation to be initiated by this commission...The ECI must also initiate criminal law and ensure the registeration of an FIR against Shri Basavaraj Bommai, officials and employees of the BBMP and the state government involved in the scam and the officials of the private entities and NGOs who have committed the fraud under political patronage," the memorandum said.
#VoteGate ಹಗರಣ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಇಂದು AICC ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಶ್ರೀ @RSSurjewala ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ದಿಲ್ಲಿಯ EC ಕಚೇರಿಗೆ ದೂರು ನೀಡಲಾಯಿತು. ಮಾತು ಕೊಟ್ಟು ವಂಚಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ BJP ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಜನರ ಮತದಾನದ ಹಕ್ಕನ್ನು ಕಸಿಯುವ ಹೀನ ಕೃತ್ಯ ಎಸಗಿದೆ. ಹೋರಾಟವು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರ ರಕ್ತದಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೂ "ತಗ್ಗೋದೇ ಇಲ್ಲ".
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) November 23, 2022
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KMES Institutions shine in SSLC result, continue four-decade legacy of education in rural Karkala
Karkala: KMES Institutions of Education at Kukkundooru in Karkala taluk has recorded outstanding results in the 2025-26 SSLC and PUC examinations, continuing a four-decade educational journey that began with just 22 kindergarten students and no building of its own.
The institution secured a 100 per cent result in the SSLC examinations, with all 43 students passing the examination this year.
Muhammad Arman Shahid emerged as the school topper by scoring 619 marks out of 625, securing 99 per cent and also ranking sixth at the state level. He scored full marks in Kannada, Hindi, Mathematics and Social Science.
Krithika V. Nayak secured the second position in the school with 607 marks and 97.12 per cent, while Arhan stood third with 605 marks and 96.8 per cent.
Out of the 43 students, 21 passed with distinction, 19 secured first class, two students obtained second class and one student passed in third class. Fourteen students scored above 90 per cent.
The institution also performed strongly in the PUC examinations. The Science stream recorded a 100 per cent result, with all 44 students passing, while Commerce secured a 98 per cent pass percentage.
Twelve students scored full marks in different subjects, including Mathematics.
In Commerce, Deeksha Acharya topped the college with 588 marks, while Harshitha H. Kini secured the second position with 581 marks.
In Science, Naveen B. Nayak emerged as topper with 586 marks, followed closely by Sameeksha Moily and Aifa Nidha, who both secured 585 marks.
Speaking about the achievement, High School head teacher Shrimati Patkar said the institution has always focused on supporting academically weak students through affordable education and free special classes.
“Our ambition is to provide quality education even to students who struggle in studies. The fees are very low, and free coaching classes are conducted. I have worked here for 28 years and have always found the atmosphere supportive of education,” she said.
Primary School head teacher Lolita Zeena D’Silva appreciated the dedication of the teaching staff and said the school encourages students not only to achieve high marks but also to become role models.
PU College Principal Balakrishna Rao said the institution focuses on value-based education and overall personality development.
“The aim is to help students succeed not only academically but also in cultural activities, sports and leadership. We encourage qualities such as patience, tolerance and discipline,” he said.
Rao also credited the institution’s growth to the support of founders K.S. Mohammed Masood and K.S. Nissar Ahmed, along with President K.S. Imtiaz Ahmed.
Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Ahmed said the institution was built on the dream of making quality education accessible to financially backward families in rural areas.
He said the guidance and encouragement of his elder brothers, Mohammed Masood and Nissar Ahmed, along with the contribution of teachers, students and parents, helped transform the institution into a model educational centre.
The KMES Institutions trace their roots back to 1984, when they were founded by senior social activists Haji P.M. Khan, K.S. Nazeer Ahmed and Haji A.S. Rashid Haider.
The institution initially functioned from the Government Urdu School premises as it did not have a building of its own. Classes began with only 22 students in lower kindergarten and two teachers.
Later, under the leadership of K.S. Mohammed Masood and with continuous financial and moral support from non-resident businessman K.S. Nissar Ahmed, the institution gradually expanded.
In 1993, the school shifted to its own building and began conducting classes from LKG to Class 5.
As student admissions increased, Nissar Ahmed personally funded the construction of three additional classrooms to address infrastructure shortages.
The institution’s new school building was completed in 1997, while the PU College building was constructed in 2001.
From humble beginnings in a borrowed building to producing state-level rank holders and consistent academic results, the KMES Institutions have grown into one of the prominent educational centres in the Karkala region.
