As Candidates' future secured in EVMs, all eyes on Nov.6
Bengaluru,Nov.3: The by-poll elections for three lok sabha and two assembly seats in the state, that was seen as the crucial decider for upcoming general election in 2019, was ended peacefully on Saturday.
As the future of all the candidates is secured in the EVMs, now its agonising wait for them till Nov.6.
Voting that was started with low note on Saturday morning 7am picked up some moment in the afternoon. People visited their nearby polling booths and exercised their rights with enthusiasm.
In some places due to technical hiccups polling was delayed. Apart from few incidents of election boycott, voting was almost peaceful.
This election had created immense curiosity as it was considered as the direct fight between congress-JDS coalition and BJP. The result will be known only on Nov.6.
While by-elections were held in Ballari, Shivamogga and Mandya, in Jamakhandi and Ramanagar by-poll was held for assembly seats.
More than 30 candidates including, V.S Ugrappa-J.Shanta, Madhu Bangarappa- B.Y Raghavendra, L.R Shivaramegowda- Dr. Siddaramaiah, Anita Kumaraswamy, Anand Nyamagouda and Shrikant Kulkarni were in the frey.
B.Y Raghavendra contesting from Shivamogga constituency visited polling booth no.132 at Shikaripur taluk panchayat building along with his family. Madhu Bangarappa along with his family cast vote at Soraba booth no.31.
Ballari BJP candidate J. Shanta cast her vote at Ballari women and children development department office poll booth along with her son-in-law. Actor Ambareesh cast his right at booth no.164 at Maddoor Doddarasinakere.
Ally candidate Anand Nyamagouda cast his vote along with his family in Jamakhandi booth no. 125. MLA K.S Eshwarappa, Somashekar Reddy, former speaker D.H Shankaramurthy and other leaders cast their votes in various polling booths.
For the first time election commission had provided special vehicle facility for physically disabled people.
Villagers of Haraginadoni in Ballari boycotted the election demanding basic facilities to the village including drinking water.
High security was deployed in all five polling stations. Section 144 was imposed in the polling area. Local police along with central reserve police force was deployed to maintain law and order in the region.
Voting percentages:
Jamakhandi - 81.58%
Ramanagara - 73.71%
Ballari - 63.85%
Shivamogga - 61.05%
Mandya - 53.93%
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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.
