Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will lead the party’s ‘Vote Adhikar Rally’ at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on Friday at 10:30 am, protesting alleged “vote theft” in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Titled “Our Vote, Our Right, Our Struggle,” the event aims to kickstart a nationwide movement against electoral fraud, with Karnataka as its launchpad.
The Congress alleges significant irregularities in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, where a party study claims over one lakh fake, duplicate, or bulk votes cost them the seat. Despite winning six of seven segments in the constituency, the party lost Mahadevapura by over 1,14,000 votes, leading to a narrow BJP victory by 32,707 votes (6,58,915 to 6,26,208).
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM and KPCC President D K Shivakumar, AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, along with ministers, KPCC working presidents, and party workers, will join the rally. A preparatory meeting on Wednesday, attended by top leaders, finalized plans to showcase the party’s strength and commitment to electoral integrity.
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The rally coincides with upcoming Bihar assembly polls, amplifying its political significance. Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP and Election Commission of colluding in a “huge criminal fraud,” citing Mahadevapura’s voter list irregularities as evidence. The Congress aims to rally public support to demand transparency and judicial intervention to protect democracy.
Bengaluru Traffic Police have issued advisories, restricting vehicular movement on MG Road, Cubbon Road, Old Airport Road, Chalukya Road, and Shantala Junction, with parking curbs in surrounding areas to manage the expected crowd. The event underscores Congress’s strategy to escalate its campaign against alleged electoral malpractices, positioning Karnataka as a focal point for its nationwide agitation.
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