A controversy has arisen in Karnataka before the Bagalkot bypolls over a dual voter issue. Former Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol accused the Congress of instilling fear in voters to avoid defeat. The dispute emerged after Deputy CM Shivakumar highlighted the inclusion of student voters with dual votes in certain Bagalkot city wards.
Karjol challenged the ruling party to arrest student voters, criticizing the warnings issued by Deputy CM Shivakumar and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala. He condemned the alleged intimidation of youth and college students, labeling it as a threat to democracy. Karjol also criticized the misuse of grassroots workers by the ruling party to influence voters.
The former Deputy CM emphasized voter eligibility criteria, stating that individuals with proper address and Aadhaar details are entitled to a single vote. He accused Congress leaders of making statements out of fear of losing the election and misleading voters. Karjol urged for fair governance and criticized the heavy campaigning and spending by the Chief Minister and Deputy CM in the constituency.
