Archive · 27 Sep 2026
Shivakumar Says Congress Vote Theft Concerns Proved True
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said Congress leaders’ worries about possible vote theft were correct.
He said some election problems had made people question the Election Commission.
Congress plans to discuss what to do next at a party meeting.
Opposition parties are also expected to meet.
The BJP says Congress is raising the issue because it lost an election.
Shivakumar disagrees and says the Election Commission raised similar concerns.
He also discussed a missing government engineer who is being searched for.
He said farmers near Byramangala do not have to give up their land, but should not block roads.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said concerns raised by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge over alleged vote theft had been validated.
He said the Election Commission’s functioning was under scrutiny and announced discussions through the Congress Working Committee and an all-party meeting.
The BJP accused Congress of raising the issue because of electoral frustration, while Shivakumar said the Election Commission had raised similar concerns.
Shivakumar said a missing Gadag assistant executive engineer was being traced amid an investigation and earlier complaints about his work.
He said farmers opposing land acquisition near Byramangala were not being forced to surrender land and should not block roads.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Congress, the BJP and the Election Commission.
- What
- Shivakumar said alleged vote-theft concerns raised by Congress leaders had proved true and called for discussions on the next course of action.
- When
- Sunday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- Bengaluru, with related issues involving Gadag, Byramangala and the proposed Bidadi township near Ramanagara.
- Why
- Shivakumar said alleged election irregularities had brought the Election Commission under scrutiny and required discussion by Congress and opposition parties.
Congress and Opposition Concerns
BJP Criticism
Alleged vote theft
Congress and Opposition Concerns
Congress leaders, backed by Shivakumar, say concerns about vote theft and election irregularities have proved true and warrant further political action.
BJP Criticism
The BJP says Congress is raising the issue because it is frustrated by its electoral defeat.
Election Commission scrutiny
Congress and Opposition Concerns
Shivakumar said the Election Commission’s functioning has come under scrutiny and that the commission raised issues similar to those identified by Congress.
BJP Criticism
The article does not provide a detailed response from the Election Commission or further BJP evidence beyond its criticism of Congress’s motivation.
Land acquisition protests
Congress and Opposition Concerns
Shivakumar said people who want to sell land may do so, while those who do not want to part with it should not be pressured.
BJP Criticism
Farmers have been blocking roads at Byramangala over land acquisition for the proposed Bidadi township, which Shivakumar said inconveniences the public.
- Main issue
- Alleged vote theft and irregularities in the conduct of elections.
- Congress response
- The Congress Working Committee is expected to discuss the party’s next course of action.
- Broader meeting
- An all-party meeting was called to discuss the way forward.
- BJP criticism
- The BJP said Congress was raising the issue out of frustration over electoral defeat.
- Missing official
- A Gadag assistant executive engineer is being traced while an investigation examines complaints against him.
- Work monitoring
- Shivakumar said officials must record videos before and after public works to prevent fraudulent billing.
- Land dispute
- He said landowners near Byramangala could choose whether to part with their land.