The Election Commission has issued a notice to Congress MLA Raju Kage, also known as Bharamgouda Alagouda Kage, for his alleged controversial remarks during an election campaign in Madabavi, Belagavi, on April 30. Raju Kage has been given 24 hours to respond to the notice.
The notice was issued on May 2 following complaints that Raju Kage threatened voters in the Madabhavi village of the Belagavi district in Karnataka, with a “power cut” if they did not vote for the Congress party by a significant margin during the Lok Sabha campaign.
Speaking in Kannada, Raju Kage said, “I got 400 votes less. I got fewer votes in Mangavathi, Shoolu, forget about Shahpura. I won’t talk much about it. If I do, worms will enter my mouth. If I don’t get more votes, we will disconnect your electricity. Therefore, that shouldn’t happen. I will stick to my words.”
If you do not Vote us, We will disconnect your electricity – Karnataka Congress MLA Raju Kage. pic.twitter.com/TAHBCIDJdu
— Wali (@Netaji_bond_) May 1, 2024
The Assistant Returning Officer of the Kagavad Vidhan Sabha Constituency sent the notice, indicating a potential violation of the Election Code of Conduct.
In response to Raju Kage’s remarks, the Bharatiya Janata Party unleashed vehement criticism against the Congress party, condemning its intimidation tactics towards voters. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala took a jibe at the grand old party, stating that it is not a ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’and is actually ‘Dhamki Ke Bhaijan ‘ (Threat master).
After DK Shivkumar threatened housing society voters to vote for his brother now Congress MLA Raju Kage says if you don’t vote for me there will be electricity cuts as per news reports ((below))
Congress talks of Muhabbat ki Dukan but this is DHAMKI KE BHAIJAAN
ECI must act on… pic.twitter.com/2tWY1lmebx
— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) May 1, 2024
Congress MLA Raju Kage from Chikkodi’s Kagwad area in Belagavi once again grabbed headlines for his controversial remarks, this time targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a public meeting, he derided voters and youth who chanted “Modi Modi” slogans while countering the BJP-led NDA’s query about the opposition alliance’s PM candidate. He provocatively questioned the crowd, “What if PM Modi dies? Will no one become the Prime Minister of the country with a population of 140 crore?”
In 2019, Raju Kage made a significant move by quitting the BJP to join the Congress party. Prior to his defection, he had garnered attention for making derogatory remarks about Janta Dal(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy during a public event. Kage’s comments, which compared Kumaraswamy unfavourably to the Prime Minister, sparked controversy and widespread condemnation. He disparagingly remarked, “You say the Prime Minister changes outfits again and again. Arre, he is fair & handsome, that’s why he changes constantly. But even if you (Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy) bathe 100 times a day, you will remain a black buffalo,” as reported by news agency ANI.
Polling for Karnataka, with 28 Lok Sabha seats, is being held in two phases. Voting for 14 seats concluded on April 26, while the remaining 14 seats will undergo polling on May 7. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
