BJP will win all 28 Karnataka seats in Lok Sabha elections: Yediyurappa, seeing assembly poll leads
Bengaluru (PTI): Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said the BJP would win all of Karnataka's 28 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, after the results of the assembly polls today showed the party taking a significant lead in three of four states, for which counting is underway.
Congratulating Prime Minister Natendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda for the imminent victory in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan assembly polls, Yediyurappa credited them for BJP's performance.
While the BJP has a clear lead in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, Congress is ahead in Telangana as per latest trends on Sunday.
The Lingayat strongman said it was now repeatedly getting clear that there is no opposition to BJP to rule the country, either in the Congress or any other party. "These (assembly) election results have laid a foundation for Congress to bite the dust," he added.
"After these results, we will make a sincere effort to win all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka and gift it to Prime Minister Modi, " Yediyurappa told reporters.
Yediyurappa said he would travel across Karnataka to campaign after the current Karnataka legislative assembly session in Belagavi gets over.
He also said that his son B Y Vijayendra is getting a rousing welcome in all parts of the state after becoming state president, which is an indication of the trust built among people.
Apart from its excellent showing in MP, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, Yediyurappa said, the BJP has performed well in Telangana in 10 seats. Counting is still underway and BJP currently leads in eight seats in the southern state.
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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.
