Karnataka Elections: Will EC Cancel Polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar After Seizure of Over 9,000 Voter ID Cards?

Bengaluru, May 9: Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Sadananda Gowda have petitioned the Election Commission on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeking deferment of polls in Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency, where over 9,000 voter ID cards were seized from a flat last night.

EC officials, after being tipped by BJP workers, raided a flat in Jalahalli last night, where, a total of 9,746 valid ID cards were recovered, along with a printer and five laptops.

Will the Election Commission cancel polling in Rajarajeshwari Nagar?

The Commission sources, while speaking to NDTV, said the mere seizure of polling cards could not be considered as rigging of the elections. On BJP's appeal to forfeit the polling in the constituency, the EC official said the demand if "far-fetched" and impractical.

"Voters can vote even without voter IDs by showing other proof. So just because of 9,000 cards were found in that flat doesn't warrant countermanding of polls in Rajarajeshwari Nagar," the official was quoted as saying.

'Polls have been rigged, should be deferred'

The ruling BJP is firm on seeking a re-election from constituency, alleging the Congress harvested the voter IDs, in a bid to secure the victory of their candidate from the seat, N Munirathna.

"BJP demands countermanding of elections in AC 154 Rajrajeshwari Nagar in light of latest revelations of tens of thousands of fake voter ID and empty packets of hard currency. This is Congress conspiracy to rig election , in face of their imminent defeat," Javadekar said.

Congress dismissed the charges levelled by the BJP, alleging the flat from where the cards were seized is owned by a former BJP corporator, Manjula Nanjamari.

"BJP enacted this drama in an apartment belonging to their own leader, Manjula Nanjamari. She has rented the apartment to her son Mr Rakesh who contested the 2015 BBMP (local) elections on a BJP ticket. Apartment was not raided by police or EC but by BJP workers," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

The BJP, however, accused the Congress of spreading misinformation, claiming that Rakesh is not the son of Manjula. "This is a fake propaganda being spread by them after being exposed," said party spokesperson Sambit Patra.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2018 06:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).