Over 60,000 votes manipulated in Karnataka: Shivakumar backs Rahul Gandhi's claims

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Backing allegations made by Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, speaking exclusively to India Today, said the Congress had gathered extensive evidence of electoral fraud in the state. He claimed that more than 60,000 votes had been manipulated in a single constituency and asserted that the party had full documentation to support its findings.

“I fully endorse his views. It is our Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) research team from day 1, we were just working out on this because we are very shocked to hear and know about the result and what has happened. And I endorse it and we have more than 60,000 votes in one constituency which we have full documentation connected to it. And he has also made a very thorough study on that issue. He has come out and we stand by his statement,” Shivakumar said.

When asked if the alleged tampering extended to Bengaluru Rural, where his brother DK Suresh contested and lost the recent Lok Sabha elections, Shivakumar replied, “Yes, of course, of course, of course. We’ll give some documents connected to it.”

On the issue of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being conducted in Bihar, Shivakumar also supported the Congress Party’s objections to the removal of 51 lakh voters from the electoral rolls. “This has been well after the Maharashtra elections. The polling time, how it can be 51 lakh like has been voted in a short time. What is that? All these things are there. I still think the media has to take up this issue. It is your responsibility also to see that a free and fair election is taking place in the country. We may lose, we win. No one can always win. We may also lose. I agree, but this is not the way our elections were conducted.”

When asked how many Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka may have seen such irregularities, Shivakumar declined to provide a figure. “I don't want to comment on that. We are going to give a number of evidences, then let us speak,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi had on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “cheating” during the voter list revision process in a Karnataka constituency. Gandhi claimed that the Congress had gathered irrefutable evidence of electoral fraud being facilitated by the Commission. “We have concrete, 100 per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka. Not 90 per cent - when we decide to show it to you it’s 100 per cent proof,” he said.

Reacting to Gandhi’s statement, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a post on X on Thursday, said the Lok Sabha election results in the state had not only surprised the Congress but also raised serious doubts. “The truth that the irregularities committed by @BJP4India by misusing the Election Commission were the reason for the Congress party's setback is now coming to light,” he wrote.

He added, “As the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, @RahulGandhi is gradually exposing the irregularities committed by the Election Commission, and he has also provided details about the electoral malpractices that took place in Karnataka. I fully endorse Rahul Gandhi’s statement that there is hundred percent evidence of the Election Commission’s irregularities in Karnataka. Our numerous workers had lodged complaints about the sudden addition of new voters and the deletion of old voters’ names in several constituencies of the state.”

Siddaramaiah further alleged that Prime Minister @narendramodi’s victories were not based on popularity or performance. “@narendramodi’s election victories are neither due to his popularity nor the achievements of the BJP government. The truth that it is due to the ‘vote theft’ conducted through the Election Commission is now being revealed,” he said.

He also said the party would soon decide on a course of action. “Regarding the actions to be taken on the electoral irregularities that occurred in Karnataka, we will consult with Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and make a decision.”

- Ends

Published On:

Jul 25, 2025

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