Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has thrown his weight behind Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s campaign against alleged ‘vote chori’, calling on citizens to support the party’s signature drive to safeguard democracy.
In a post on X, Siddaramaiah said:
“I wholeheartedly support Smt. Priyanka Gandhi ji’s call against #VoteChori. Every vote matters, every signature strengthens our fight. Let us unite to protect the principle of one person, one vote and defend our democracy.”
His endorsement came a day after Priyanka Gandhi released a video appeal urging people to join the Congress drive, stressing that “every signature counts” and that the sanctity of the ballot must be defended to uphold democracy.
Background of the Controversy:
- The campaign follows two press conferences this week by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who alleged systematic voter roll deletion and manipulation in states including Karnataka and Maharashtra.
- Rahul Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of “shielding vote chors” and claimed there was “black and white proof” of electoral tampering using software.
- He demanded the Election Commission release voter data within a week, warning that more “explosive evidence” would follow.
- The Election Commission of India dismissed the allegations as “baseless”, insisting that deletions follow due process and require verification.
Political Significance in Karnataka:
With Siddaramaiah’s public support, the Congress campaign is likely to gain momentum in Karnataka, where voter roll irregularities have already stirred political tension. The ruling party in the state is expected to amplify the issue in the run-up to future elections, positioning the campaign as a fight to “protect democracy and restore voter trust.”
