A major scandal has hit Karnataka Assembly Elections days before the state goes to vote. 10,000 fake voter ID cards were found from an apartment in Jalahalli locality of Bengaluru. This is a major discovery ahead of Karnataka polls scheduled on March 12. Election Commission has also confirmed the recovery of 9,746 Electors Photo Identity Card from an apartment in Bengaluru’s Jalahalli area of Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency. Chief Electoral Officer for Karnataka, Sanjeev Kumar, said “FIR has been registered & further investigations will be conducted. The situation is being closely monitored by the Election Commission & appropriate action will be taken.”
FIR has been registered & further investigations will be conducted. The situation is being closely monitored by the Election Commission & appropriate action will be taken: Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer for #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Q5o5zrqz6z
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2018
Massive fake election card scam in Bengaluru. Lakhs of fake election cards found. Is this why Congress has been so confident of winning Karnataka inspite of PM @narendramodi's huge popularity??? Is this the reason why @RahulGandhi pre-decided & declared himself as PM in 2019???
— Priti Gandhi (Modi ka Parivar) (@MrsGandhi) May 9, 2018
Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded the scrapping of upcoming polls in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency of Bengaluru where the apartment is located. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, BJP’s in-charge for Karnataka elections, accused the Congress of employing the ‘conspiracy to rig election, in face of their imminent defeat.’
BJP demands countermanding of elections in AC 154 Raj Rajeshwari Nagar in light of latest revelations of tens of thousands of fake voter ID and empty packets of hard currency. This is Congress conspiracy to rig election , in face of their imminent defeat.
— Prakash Javadekar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@PrakashJavdekar) May 8, 2018
Union Minister, D.V. Sadanand Gowda, alleged that the Congress candidate, Munirathna Naidu is behind the fake voter ID cards. He also added that he will approach Election Commission on Wednesday to demand a proper investigation of this Fake ID card row.
The Democracy being attacked in Bengaluru . I am shocked at the incident . More than 20000 Voter ID cards found at private apartment . I visited the place personally . This mockery at behest of @INCIndia Rajarajeshwari Nagara Candidate Munirathna Naidu #congresscheatsdemocracy pic.twitter.com/fZHzgbcOio
— Sadananda Gowda ( Modi Ka Parivar ) (@DVSadanandGowda) May 8, 2018
The Congress was quick to respond to BJP’s allegations. Congress spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala rubbished all the allegations made by BJP and accused BJP of enacting this whole drama and said this is BJP’s conspiracy and we have exposed it. He added, “BJP enacted this drama in an apartment belonging to their own leader, Manjula Nanjamari. She has rented the apartment to her son who contested the 2015 BBMP Elections on a BJP ticket. The apartment was not raided by police or EC but by BJP workers.”
"BJP enacted this drama in an apartment belonging to their own leader, Manjula Nanjamari. She has rented the apartment to her son who contested the 2015 BBMP Elections on a BJP ticket. Apartment was not raided by police or EC but by BJP workers": @rssurjewala #BJPDramaExposed pic.twitter.com/EAQ9hoxPmE
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) May 8, 2018
However, the Union Minister Sadanand Gowda dismissed allegations made by the Congress. He tweeted a document of the Election Commission which confirms that Mr Rakesh is not Ms Nanjamari’s son.
I present the statement from EC which never said Mrs Manjula Nanja Mari And Mr Rakesh is Mother n Son . It's congress conspiracy to make them mother -son . I challenge @INCIndia to prove the statement . Now Congress fear loss of their efforts to rig the elections. pic.twitter.com/EbT7Px6mCM
— Sadananda Gowda ( Modi Ka Parivar ) (@DVSadanandGowda) May 9, 2018
Prakash Javadekar has also dismissed Congress’ allegations. He said that Manjula Nanjamuri has nothing to do with BJP. She left BJP six years ago and is now a Congress member.
Manjula Nanjamuri has nothing to do with BJP. She left BJP six years ago. Manjula is a Congress person now. They just want to blame BJP without any substance. We have proof of various things, which we will present before the EC: Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister. pic.twitter.com/ApXbRoDvyM
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2018
With these series of allegations and cross-allegations, the only thing which is suffering the most is democracy. Such rigging of elections with fake voter ID card is not a healthy sign for democracy. 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections are battle for survival for Congress and a gateway to the South Indian Politics and stepping stone for 2019 parliamentary elections for BJP. That’s why both the parties are leaving no stone unturned to win this election. The unearthed fake voter ID cards are sign of Congress’ desperation.
This Game of Thrones is in its final leg and battle is getting more and more intense as the voting date is coming closer. All the possible tricks have been tried, be it challenge and counter-challenge, sending legal notices, fostering a divide between north and south, dividing Hindus on religion and caste lines and appeasing Islamist by withdrawing riot cases against them. It seems, the Congress is more desperate to retain Karnataka and hence trying every dirty trick to lose its one of the last bastions.
Karnataka will be going for polls on 12th may and the results will be out on 15th of May. Election results will not be limited to victory or defeat only, they will decide prospects of future course of actions as well.
