Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has claimed that 1.12 crore signatures have been collected across the state as part of the Congress-led nationwide campaign against alleged voter fraud.
With 5.21 crore eligible voters in Karnataka — including 2.62 crore men and 2.59 crore women — the state had recorded a historic 73.19% voter turnout during the May 10, 2023 Assembly elections for its 224 constituencies.
Now, the Congress says that the same electoral machinery that enabled record participation has also become the source of “mass manipulation and deletion of genuine votes.”
Over One Crore Signatures to be Sent to Delhi
Addressing reporters at the Bharat Jodo Bhavan in Bengaluru, Shivakumar, who also heads the KPCC, said the party had mobilised workers across all 224 Assembly segments and 40 district units to gather signatures condemning voter manipulation.
“We have collected 1,12,40,000 signatures from across Karnataka against voter theft,” Shivakumar said.
“Except for a few pockets, the campaign saw overwhelming participation at the booth level. It’s not just a political campaign — it’s a public awakening against the erosion of democracy.”
The signed petitions will be dispatched to Delhi on November 10, accompanied by district presidents who led the drive. A mega rally is being planned for November 25 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, he added.
“This campaign will not end here. Districts that missed the initial phase will continue collecting signatures for a few more days,” he clarified.
Voting Through Ballots for Civic Elections Under Consideration
In a striking statement, the DCM said the state government is considering holding upcoming municipal elections through ballot papers instead of EVMs.
“The Election Commission is itself asking us for evidence instead of acting on our complaints,” he said.
“If the Commission seeks proof from victims of voter fraud, how can the system be trusted? That is why we are exploring ballot voting for local body polls.”
He accused the Election Commission of India of being “an active participant” in alleged electoral malpractices.
“The Commission has turned into an agent of the BJP,” he alleged, claiming that officials had ignored multiple complaints and even failed to cooperate with SIT investigations into voter deletion scams.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: 1.12 crore signatures collected in Karnataka against vote rigging: ಮತಗಳ್ಳತನ ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ 1.12 ಕೋಟಿ ಸಹಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ — ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗವೇ ಅಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿಯಾಗಿದೆ: ಡಿ.ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್
Alleged Vote Deletions and SIT Investigations
Shivakumar cited several examples of electoral fraud, including the Aland constituency, where Minister Priyank Kharge had lodged complaints even before the 2023 polls.
“At Aland, fake applications were filed at 4 a.m. to delete genuine voters’ names. Within 17 minutes, 14 names were removed, and around 6,000 more deletions were attempted,” he said.
“The SIT probe has revealed that mobile numbers from other states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and Jharkhand were used to submit Form-7 applications. One deleted vote was allegedly worth ₹80.”
Shivakumar also referenced reports that BJP candidate Subhash Gutte had destroyed voter records by burning documents — a case currently under SIT investigation.
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge Leading National Campaign
The DCM said the signature drive is part of a broader movement led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi to “protect democracy and the Constitution.”
“Rahul Gandhi has exposed shocking evidence from Mahadevapura, where over 1 lakh fake votes were linked to single addresses — one house had 80 voters, and a bar had 70-plus entries,” Shivakumar said.
“The Freedom Park protest in Bengaluru, attended by Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, sent a national message about the collapse of electoral integrity.”
He asserted that such manipulation was not isolated to one constituency, claiming similar irregularities in Gandhinagar and other segments where votes from minorities, Dalits, and backward-class families were “diverted strategically to weaken Congress support.”
Voter Fraud Allegations Extend Beyond Karnataka
Shivakumar linked the alleged malpractices to a nationwide pattern, citing Haryana where, he said, “one woman was found holding 200 votes” and nearly 25 lakh votes were found fraudulent statewide.
“This is not just a Congress campaign — it’s a citizens’ movement to defend the right to vote,” he said.
“People across India, cutting across party lines, have joined this signature drive to safeguard democracy.”
Election Commission ‘Silent’ on Complaints
When asked why the Congress had not approached the courts, Shivakumar said the party had repeatedly written to the Election Commission seeking documents and clarifications.
“They refuse to share information even after 12 letters from the SIT. Instead, the Commission keeps asking us for evidence while withholding its own data,” he said.
“If the Commission won’t cooperate with investigators, what confidence can citizens have in its neutrality?”
He further claimed that 300 MPs had submitted a memorandum to the Commission in Delhi, but “there has been no response or action so far.”
State to Use Separate Voter List for Civic Polls
Amid mounting distrust, the DCM announced that Karnataka will use its own State Election Commission’s voter list for local body polls, not the central list used in national elections.
“After we exposed these irregularities, the Commission rushed to revise voter rolls — proof that they knew something was wrong,” he said.
“By using a separate voter list, we’ll expose how deep the manipulation runs.”
Party Appointments and Upcoming Plans
Responding to questions about political appointments, Shivakumar said the government would soon announce 600 nominations to boards and corporations within a week, adding that over 3,000 Congress workers have already been given responsibilities across constituencies.
He also expressed confidence in the party’s performance in upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, saying:
“We trust the people of Bihar to vote for democracy and constitutional integrity. A decisive mandate is on the way.”
Campaign for Democracy, Not Just Politics
Calling the voter-fraud issue a “national democratic emergency,” Shivakumar said the Congress campaign was not about partisan gain but about restoring public faith in elections.
“I know how hard we fought to protect 15 lakh genuine voters in Karnataka,” he said.
“We will continue this battle for every citizen’s right to vote freely and fearlessly.”
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