BJP seeks CBI probe into T'gana poaching claims; slams BJD for attempt to malign Amit Shah's image
New Delhi, Oct 28: The BJP on Friday urged the Election Commission to order a CBI probe into the Telangana Rashtra Samithi's allegation that its members tried to poach some MLAs of the regional party, claiming that the entire event has been staged to influence the Munugode bypoll.
A BJP delegation, which met the commission, also accused Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of being behind a "sinister" attempt to malign the "personal image" of Home Minister Amit Shah through a "fake and doctored" audio clip with a view to influence the Dhamnagar bypoll.
It sought "deterrent" action against the accused and urged the Election Commission (EC) to get an FIR lodged against BJD members allegedly behind it.
Both assembly bypolls are due on November 3.
"A fake and doctored audio clip has been released through social media by BJD functionaries of an alleged meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and one independent candidate of Dhamnagar constituency. The fact is no such meeting took place," the delegation said.
It included Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP general secretary Arun Singh and party chief spokesperson Anil Baluni besides another leader Om Pathak.
Chandrasekhar said serious efforts at "intimidation" and disrupting the bypolls in Telangana and Odisha are underway. Both state governments have been "unsettled" by growing popularity of the BJP and are resorting to illegal methods to influence outcomes of the polls, he alleged.
The BJP said the EC should order a CBI probe into the Telangana issue as the state police, it alleged, is following the diktat of the state's ruling party.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is nervous as it is set to lose the bypoll, the party claimed, adding that this apprehension has prompted it to stage an event to target the BJP.
Police in Telangana have detained three people and registered an FIR against them alleging that they tried to coax four TRS legislators into defecting the party.
Rohith Reddy, one of the four TRS MLAs alleged, that the accused offered him Rs 100 crore and in return the legislator has to leave TRS and contest as BJP candidate in the next Assembly elections.
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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.
