Oct 12: 332 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths in Karnataka
Dakshina Kannada reports 27 Covid positive cases, 3 fatalities
Bengaluru, Oct 12: Karnataka logged 332 fresh COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths on Tuesday, taking the total number of infections to 29,81,732 and the toll to 37,906.
The day also saw 515 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,34,085.
Bengaluru Urban continued to top in number of cases (145), as the city saw 125 discharges and five deaths.
The active cases in the state is now 9,712.
While the positivity rate for the day stood at 0.41 per cent, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 3.31 per cent.
Out of 11 deaths reported on Tuesday, five were from Bengaluru Urban, while Dakshina Kannada logged three. Bengaluru Rural, Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada each reported one fatality.
Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 145, Mysuru 39, Dakshina Kannada 27, Hassan 21, Udupi 17, followed by others.
Bengaluru Urban district topped the list of positive cases, with a total of 12,48,604, followed by Mysuru 1,78,568 and Tumakuru 1,20,472.
Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban was on top with 12,25,810, followed by Mysuru 1,75,730 and Tumakuru 1,19,075.
Cumulatively, a total of 4,89,50,674 samples have been tested in the state so far, out of which 79,177 were on Tuesday alone.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
