Barely a day before the feverish campaigning in Karnataka is to conclude and ahead of the Saturday poll, a major row has erupted over seizure of over 10,000 fake voter ID cards in a flat in Bengaluru.
The Congress and the BJP on Wednesday accused each other of the racket.
The BJP demanded countermanding of the poll in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar assembly seat where fake voter ID cards were found from a flat wrapped in smaller packets.
Five laptops and printers were also recovered from the flat.
Delegations comprising senior leaders from both the major parties met the Election Commission in New Delhi and sought steps against each other.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma who met the EC alleged that it is not the EC or police but the BJP people who raided a flat that allegedly belonged to a BJP leader and that the tenant was also a BJP leader.
The BJP, on the other hand, demanded countermanding of polls in the constituency with Union Minister and party’s Karnataka in-charge Prakash Javadekar alleging that Congress candidate and sitting MlA Munirathna Naidu was behind the “racket”, which was “exposed” by BJP worker Rakesh.
Addressing a Press conference in Bengaluru, the State EC said they would be sending a report to the EC. Meanwhile it is learnt the EC is sending a team to Bengaluru to look into the fake voter IDs.
The flat belong to one Manjula Nanjamari who was with BJP and not active since 2002 with the party. The flat has been rented to one Rekha. Her brother Rangaraju was allegedly a close aide of Munirathna Naidu, the Congress candidate from Rajarajeshwari Nagara constituency. Speaking to TV channels, Manjula confessed that she was not active in the BJP but said she is identified with the party.
Javadekar said thousands of fake cards with hologram, lamination machines, and computers were seized by police after BJP workers informed it about the racket, and demanded a thorough forensic enquiry.
“This is the philosophy of the Congress....if voters do not vote for you, create fake voters,” he added. He also said Manjula was once associated with the BJP but was now with the Congress, and demanded her immediate arrest.
“The Congress is losing public support and they are trying hard to rig the upcoming elections in Karnataka by undemocratic ways. So, we demand countermanding of polls in this constituency at RR Nagar,” he added.
Meanwhile Congress spokesman Rajdeep Singh Surjawala blasted the BJP for lies and blamed them for creating a row. He also alleged that flat owner Manjula and Rakesh had BJP connections and both contested Bengaluru Municipal Corporation elections on BJP tickets. “The BJP’s lies stand exposed. We demand a high level enquiry in to this controversy” he said .
After the Tuesday’s midnight drama and raid, Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said form 6A (Application for Inclusion of Name in Electoral Roll by an Overseas Elector) with a counterfoil with certain numbers were also found. He also said the colour in the counterfoil appeared unusual.
“In next 24 hours we will get to know more facts based on which a firm decision will be taken,” Kumar said.
The CEO’s official Press release said the apartment was owned by a person named Manjula and was rented to a person named Rakesh. “We do not know if he is related in any way to Muniratna,” he added.
According to state EC they have filed an FIR and investigation is on.