Aland Constituency Under SIT Probe for Voter Deletions and Mahadevapura Rolls Verified by ECI

Allegations of electoral irregularities were raised by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi on Sunday. Referring to “vote chori” (vote theft), he described it as a threat to democracy and the sovereignty of the people.

The Chief Minister highlighted the Aland Assembly constituency in Karnataka , where a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a charge sheet against seven individuals, including a former BJP MLA and his son, for allegedly attempting to delete over 6,000 voters’ names ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Siddaramaiah described the legal action as a significant step in addressing allegations of vote manipulation.

He also mentioned Mahadevapura constituency in Bengaluru , where discrepancies in voter rolls, including duplicate and incorrect entries , had been reported by Congress. The Election Commission of India (ECI) verified and corrected the rolls, but no criminal investigation or judicial finding has been reported, and the impact on election results remains unestablished.

Siddaramaiah asserted that manipulation of voter lists, intimidation of election machinery, and suppression of turnout in opposition areas are tactics that weaken democratic processes. He emphasized that governments formed under such conditions cannot be considered fully democratic.

The Chief Minister praised Rahul Gandhi for investigating voter roll irregularities across multiple states, including Karnataka, Haryana, and Bihar, and said these findings highlight the need for transparent electoral rolls, independent institutions, and accountability of election authorities.

Siddaramaiah concluded by urging citizens to stand for constitutional values and democratic integrity, emphasizing that vote manipulation affects not only numbers but also the dignity and equality of voters.