DK Shivakumar raises vote tampering concerns, says issue beyond mere victory or defeat
Bengaluru: Responding to a question on whether the Congress lost several constituencies due to electoral irregularities, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that the issue goes beyond the binary of winning or losing.
“It is not just about victory or defeat; it is a matter of transparency and trust in the electoral process,” he asserted.
He emphasized that no political party can expect to win perpetually, but the integrity of the system must be upheld.
When asked whether similar vote rigging had occurred in Bengaluru Rural, Shivakumar confirmed that illegal activities were indeed reported there as well. “We expected a defeat margin of around 7,000 to 8,000 votes. But it exceeded 1 lakh. When we scrutinized the voters' list, we noticed signs of extensive pre-planning,” he said.
He further revealed that in Mahadevapura constituency alone, there were no valid records for nearly 60,000 votes. “We will raise this matter in the Assembly with all supporting documentation,” he added, signaling that the Congress will officially pursue these allegations through legislative debate.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
