In Sringeri, BJP candidate D.N. Jeevaraj emerged victorious in the recounting of postal ballots, defeating sitting Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda. The Election Officer, Gaurav Kumar Shetty, officially declared the result on Monday. The recounting process in the Sringeri constituency, ordered by the Karnataka High Court for the 2023 Assembly elections, was completed, with a report submitted to the Election Commission of India on Sunday.
Jeevaraj was presented with the MLA certificate on Monday, hailing the win as a triumph for truth after a prolonged legal battle spanning three years. He highlighted a significant discrepancy in votes previously rejected during the recount, mentioning bundles of 25 votes each that were initially discarded. Jeevaraj alleged irregularities in the vote counting process post the 2023 election, claiming that votes were unlawfully added to ensure a specific outcome.
Responding to an FIR lodged against him post his victory, Jeevaraj criticized the allegations of tampering, emphasizing that such accusations arose only after his win. He expressed intent to challenge the FIR in the Supreme Court, denouncing it as baseless and illegal. BJP Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP, Tejasvi Surya, extended congratulations to Jeevaraj, lauding the victory as a testament to the electoral system and judiciary’s integrity.
The Karnataka BJP demanded an immediate declaration of the Sringeri Assembly constituency recount result in line with the High Court’s directive, accusing the Congress government of pressuring officials. Despite the BJP’s claim of victory based on figures from the Election Officer, the official announcement from the ECI is pending. Meanwhile, Congress MLA T.D. Rajegowda celebrated victory with supporters near the counting center following the recount on Saturday.
Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar, alleged a “large-scale conspiracy and systematic crime” in the Sringeri Assembly seat, branding it a stain on the nation’s democracy.
