BAGALKOTE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged serious allegations against the Congress party, claiming widespread irregularities in voter lists across Karnataka. The party has provided concrete evidence to the authorities, asserting that the Congress is manipulating electoral rolls in multiple constituencies, undermining democratic processes. The allegations come at a time when Congress has been leading nationwide protests against the BJP, accusing it of voter manipulation. Ironically, the BJP now claims that similar tactics are being employed in Congress-ruled areas.
In Bagalkote district’s Ilkal taluk, Muradi village has come under intense scrutiny. BJP claims that six individuals aged between 15 and 17 — Sharannappa Goni, Yallalinga Banni, Bhimappa Banni, Pradeep Banni, Manjunath Banni, and Mahantesh Goni — have been illegally listed in the voter rolls. This blatant inclusion of minors is a serious violation of electoral laws. Moreover, six residents from Kushtagi in Koppal district, namely Huligevva, Rangappa, Shantappa Shantageri, Padiyappa, Rangappa Shantageri, and Shantavva Shantageri, were also listed in Muradi village’s electoral rolls, even though they are officially registered in Kushtagi. BJP claims this is not a clerical error but a deliberate act to manipulate voting patterns.
Similar anomalies were observed in the Hunagund constituency, where the BJP alleges that every polling booth has listed at least 50 underage individuals. Party leaders further point out that duplicate entries exist across multiple wards, with some voters appearing in more than one ward. “This is a direct threat to the democratic process. Officials and staff responsible for compiling voter lists must be held accountable immediately,” BJP sources said. The party has submitted documents and evidence to district authorities detailing these irregularities, emphasising the need for a thorough and impartial investigation.
Former MLAs Veeranna Charantimath and Doddanagouda Patil led a protest march from Navanagara bus station to the district administration office. Demonstrators raised slogans against Congress MLA Vijayananda Kashappa of Hunagund constituency, accusing him of being complicit in the alleged voter list manipulations. BJP leaders stated that this issue affects the very credibility of elections and that failure to take prompt action could lead to aggressive public protests across the district.
BJP also highlighted that local residents and former Panchayat members had earlier raised concerns about irregularities in Muradi village’s voter list. Their complaints, according to the party, were largely ignored, allowing the alleged manipulation to continue. By presenting detailed evidence to authorities, BJP insists that officials responsible for the discrepancies be suspended, and a judicial probe should be initiated to ensure accountability.
The party specifically accuses Congress of:
- · Registering minors under 18 years in voter lists.
- Including residents from other districts in local voter rolls.
- Duplicating voter entries across multiple wards in the Hunagund constituency.
- Failing to take timely action despite prior warnings and complaints.
BJP leaders argue that these irregularities jeopardise the democratic process, erode public trust, and could unfairly influence election outcomes. They have demanded immediate corrective action from the state administration and election authorities. The party has also warned that unless strict measures are taken against the officials and staff responsible for these anomalies, the protests would intensify.
