A recent study by the Karnataka Monitoring and Evaluation Authority has revealed that an overwhelming majority of respondents in the state believe India's elections are conducted freely and fairly, providing ammunition for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to criticize the ruling Congress party. The findings, part of an evaluation survey on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, come at a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been actively campaigning on allegations of "vote theft," particularly highlighting issues in Karnataka's Kalaburagi region.

The survey, which polled 5,100 individuals across 102 assembly constituencies in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru divisions, concluded that 91.31 percent of participants agreed with the fairness of electoral processes. Confidence levels were notably high in Kalaburagi, with 84.67 percent agreeing and 10.19 percent strongly agreeing, followed by strong endorsements in Belagavi and Mysuru. The study also affirmed public trust in Electronic Voting Machines for delivering accurate results.

Senior BJP leader R Ashoka described the report as a direct rebuke to Congress, stating in a social media post that it exposed the opposition's doubts and insecurities. He characterized their actions as driven by fear of electoral verdicts rather than genuine democratic concerns, labeling it as "convenient politics" reliant on manufactured narratives.

Also Read: Karnataka Govt to Provide Alternative Housing to Kogilu Demolition Victims: CM Siddaramaiah

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla further accused Rahul Gandhi of propagating falsehoods, noting that even Congress allies and leaders like Tariq Anwar, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Omar Abdullah, and Supriya Sule have distanced themselves from such claims. Poonawalla termed Gandhi the "Leader of Propaganda," pointing out contradictions in allegations made during campaigns in Bihar and elsewhere.

The controversy traces back to September when Gandhi accused the Election Commission of orchestrating deletions of opposition supporters from voter lists ahead of the 2023 Karnataka elections. This was echoed by Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge, who raised concerns with the state's Chief Electoral Officer, fueling the ongoing "vote theft" narrative now challenged by the state agency's empirical findings.

Also Read: No ‘Bulldozer Culture’ in Karnataka, Says DK Shivakumar After Kerala CM’s Criticism