Sringeri Recount Row: Shivakumar Alleges Irregularities in Postal Ballot Process
Shivakumar alleges irregularities in Sringeri postal ballot recount and says Congress will pursue legal action.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D. K. Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged serious irregularities in the recounting of votes in the Sringeri Assembly constituency, claiming that postal ballots cast in favour of the Congress candidate were tampered with and wrongly invalidated. He also announced that the party would pursue a legal battle over the matter, escalating tensions between the Congress and BJP in the state.
Shivakumar made the allegations while speaking to reporters at the Chief Minister’s official residence “Krishna” in Bengaluru. He said the incident during the recount was “unprecedented” and amounted to a serious violation of electoral procedures. He further claimed that the handling of postal ballots raised doubts about the fairness of the recount process and demanded accountability from election officials.
According to the Congress leader, postal ballots are typically opened and verified in the presence of representatives from both parties and election officials before being counted. However, he alleged that after the standard procedure was completed, certain votes were selectively targeted for recounting and manipulation. He suggested that there was possible involvement of both officials and the BJP candidate in the alleged irregularities.
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The controversy stems from the recount in the Sringeri constituency, where BJP candidate D. N. Jeevaraj emerged victorious over sitting Congress MLA T. D. Rajegowda. Following the recount, Jeevaraj was officially issued the MLA certificate and described his victory as a “win for truth” after a prolonged legal and political battle over the results.
Shivakumar alleged that the developments pointed to a larger conspiracy and urged the Election Commission to intervene and conduct a thorough investigation into the recount process. He claimed that the Congress party would challenge the outcome through legal channels and would not accept what he termed electoral malpractice. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in postal ballot handling and described the situation as a “criminal conspiracy.”
The issue has intensified political confrontation in Karnataka, with both parties exchanging sharp accusations over the integrity of the electoral process. While the BJP maintains that the recount followed due procedure and reflects a legitimate outcome, Congress leaders insist that the matter requires judicial and electoral scrutiny. The dispute is expected to move to the legal stage as both sides prepare for further action.
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