Karnataka CM Accuses BJP of Election Irregularities in Shringeri Constituency

In a recent press conference, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of serious irregularities during the 2023 elections in the Shringeri constituency. He claimed that the management of postal ballots was marred by criminal conspiracy and vote tampering. Siddaramaiah highlighted the invalidation of ballots and alleged that the BJP manipulated the election process without adhering to proper protocols. He criticized the party for not raising objections during the counting process and emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to democratic principles. This controversy raises significant questions about the integrity of the electoral process in Karnataka.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 5, 2026, 15:49 IST

Serious Allegations Against BJP

Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has leveled serious accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the management of postal ballots during the 2023 elections in the Shringeri assembly constituency. Speaking on Tuesday, he revealed that a complaint has been filed concerning the postal ballot issue, an FIR has been registered, and the court has issued a stay order.

Siddaramaiah alleged that election observers declared results without following the Election Commission's directives or waiting for court instructions, labeling this as improper and a criminal conspiracy by the BJP to manipulate votes.

Concerns Over Postal Ballot Management

During a press conference, Siddaramaiah pointed out that in 2023, Jiwaraj received 690 postal ballots, with only 2 declared invalid. This raises suspicions of a 'vote theft' orchestrated by the BJP under a criminal conspiracy. The invalidation of these ballots was due to them being rewritten or marked multiple times, which rendered them void. He emphasized that this is not merely 'vote theft' but a clear case of vote fraud.

Allegations of Tampering Post Counting

He also hinted at possible tampering after the counting process, stating that discussions with officials and election experts revealed that all documents are stored in a trunk after counting. During the BJP's tenure, lower-level officials were allegedly influenced, leading to manipulation of the marks. This clearly indicates a case of criminal conspiracy and tampering with the voting process.

Criticism of BJP's Actions

Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP for not raising objections during the counting of postal votes in 2023 and later questioning the validity of the ballots, calling it a 'conspiracy' and accusing them of deliberate tampering. He noted that the BJP did not raise any objections at that time, questioning why they did not do so earlier. The subsequent declaration of invalid ballots appears to be part of a larger scheme, with intentional manipulation of postal ballots.

He asserted that observers were present during the counting, and according to their information, the observers had also written to the Election Commission mentioning the criminal conspiracy regarding postal ballots. The returning officer should have awaited the court's decision before declaring Jiwaraj as the winner.

Allegations of Undermining Democracy

Siddaramaiah emphasized that despite the presence of observers during the counting, concerns regarding the alleged irregularities were raised, and the returning officer should have waited for the court's ruling before declaring Jiwaraj the winner. He accused the BJP of undermining democratic processes by removing legitimate votes through the misuse of agencies and stated that the party has disrespected the Constitution.