Bengaluru, May 5 (PTI) BJP leaders in Karnataka on Tuesday accused the state government of attempting to “cover up” irregularities in the 2023 Sringeri Assembly election, even as they met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan, seeking intervention on the oath-taking process following the recounting of postal ballots.
The BJP leaders said D N Jeevaraj has not yet been administered the oath by Assembly Speaker U T Khader.
“We have requested the Governor to directly administer the oath,” Opposition BJP leader R Ashoka told reporters.
BJP candidate Jeevaraj, who had lost the 2023 Sringeri Assembly election to Congress leader T D Raje Gowda, was declared elected late Sunday night after reverification and recounting of postal ballots in compliance with a High Court order.
The recount reduced 255 votes from Raje Gowda’s tally, overturning his earlier victory margin of 201 votes and reversing the result.
The recount followed an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, with the process continuing till midnight.
Ashoka, the former Deputy Chief Minister, alleged that when he tried to call Khader regarding the issue, he “deliberately did not take the call”.
“When I met him, he started lecturing me on the law. The Speaker himself became an MLA in the same way and did not go to court at that time. Even though there is a 45-day window for any MLA to approach the court, it does not prevent them from taking the oath. However, Khader alone is not allowing the oath and has created a new precedent,” he alleged.
Alleging a “criminal conspiracy,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated and termed it “not vote chori (theft) but vote dacoity”.
Ashoka and Jeevaraj defended the recounting process and hit back at Siddaramaiah over his allegation of “vote dacoity”.
“If there is any dacoity in this state, the first dacoits are the Congress people themselves. They are looters, not just dacoits. Like Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, your entire Cabinet is like that,” Ashoka alleged.
During the 2023 counting process, he alleged that postal ballots were not counted first as mandated.
“Postal votes should have been counted first, but they were not. They were counted at the end. Officials picked up bundles and added them to their side and declared victory,” he alleged, demanding a CBI probe.
“Who put pressure then? Who called the Returning Officer? Were those calls made by Siddaramaiah or Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar? That must be known,” he added.
He said the Karnataka High Court had clearly directed that recounting be carried out and the result announced immediately.
“It is a clear order that after counting, the result must be announced immediately. Why was it not announced?” he asked.
Referring to constitutional provisions, Ashoka said the BJP had urged the governor to ensure oath administration if required.
“There is a clear constitutional provision. The responsibility lies with the governor. That is why we requested the governor to administer the oath,” he said, adding that the party would protest against the Speaker if constitutional norms were not followed.
The BJP leaders indicated that the Speaker was allegedly not willing to administer the oath to Jeevaraj.
Targeting Siddaramaiah, Ashoka said, “He is in a constitutional position, yet he says his own officers committed dacoity and forgery. Isn’t that shameful?” He further alleged that the government was trying to shield wrongdoing.
“Protecting a criminal is also a crime,” he said.
Ashoka added that the Congress government should be dismissed.
Jeevaraj, who has now been declared elected after the recount, rejected allegations of tampering and termed them baseless.
“We had raised objections earlier itself — not once, but twice,” he said, referring to representations made on May 13, 2023, seeking recounting of postal ballots.
He questioned the delay in acting on his requests.
“If we submit an application, it becomes mandatory to act on it, but they did not do so. Before disposing of my application, they issued the certificate,” he said, adding that he had approached the court within 45 days.
Detailing alleged irregularities, Jeevaraj said, “When bundles were opened, all 25 votes in some bundles were invalid — entire bundles were invalid. Votes were manipulated by adding votes to bundles and attributing them to the opponent.” He also dismissed the CM’s remarks on tampering.
“We are in the age of CCTV cameras. Everything is recorded. All counting happens in strong rooms under surveillance. Do they not have basic knowledge before making such statements?” he said.
On the next course of action, Jeevaraj said the governor could intervene if necessary.
“If the Speaker does not act, the Governor must. Otherwise, what respect will remain for the Speaker? It will appear partisan,” he said. PTI GMS SSK
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