Ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled protest in Bengaluru on August 5, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Thursday said there was evidence of voter fraud in some Assembly segments during the previous Lok Sabha elections.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi has credible evidence of voter fraud in the Assembly constituencies of Mahadevapura and Rajajinagar during the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. To highlight this serious issue, he will lead a protest in Bengaluru on August 5 and meet with the State Chief Electoral Officer.”
A day earlier, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar had said that the details of Rahul Gandhi’s program would be finalised following a meeting with the general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Responding to a question on the Lok Sabha LoP’s visit to the state, he said that the state Congress has suggested venues for the protest, and the AICC general secretary would take a final decision. “All party leaders have been informed to be part of this program. A block-level meeting will also be held on August 3,” he added.
On the protest, Shivakumar said that Congress leaders held a meeting with the police, and there were some technical considerations. “The courts have certain conditions, too. We will make a decision post our meeting with senior leaders. Our national leaders will give more information on that day about election fraud in Karnataka,” he said.
To a question on why Rahul Gandhi was demonstrating in Karnataka while state elections will be held in Bihar later this year, Shivakumar said, “It is not the question of Karnataka or Bihar, it is a question of election sanctity.”
On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi claimed he had “100 per cent proof” that the Election Commission “allowed cheating” in a Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka and that the elections were being “stolen”.
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“I am absolutely convinced that in constituency after constituency, this is the drama that is taking place. Thousands and thousands of new voters (were added),” he said.