Published Feb 07, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 07, 2026 | 7:00 AM
Priyank Kharge at the Dakshin Dialogues.
Synopsis: At Dakshin Dialogues 2026, Priyank Kharge criticised the Centre for disadvantaging southern states through skewed tax devolution, lack of transparency, and hyper-nationalist policies. Defending Karnataka’s switch to paper ballots, he cited EVM doubts, urged impartial testing, and demanded accountability, fair fiscal returns, and recognition of southern strengths without penalisation.
Priyank Kharge spoke on a myriad of issues at the Dakshin Dialogued 2026.
He highlighted how Karnataka and neighboring southern states are high-performing contributors to India’s economy and progress, yet they face systemic disadvantages from the Centre—through skewed tax devolution, lack of electoral transparency, and hyper-nationalist policies that dent India’s global image and domestic welfare.
Kharge defended Karnataka’s decision to switch to paper ballots for the upcoming Bengaluru civic elections instead of EVMs. He cites public doubts and discrepancies in EVM usage, including: unknown disposal of old EVM batches, missing machines, and a Supreme Court case where EVM review reportedly changed an election outcome.
He accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Centre of lacking transparency and calls the ECI a “black box.”
“Karnataka has sent multiple letters and a 22,000-page complaint on alleged vote rigging without replies. Whose responsibility is it to maintain transparency? Is it mine or is ECI’s?” Kharge asked.
He also proposed an ethical hackathon supervised by a Supreme Court judge, involving institutions like IISc, to test EVMs impartially.
Kharge positions Karnataka as progressive and science-driven, emphasising that questioning is a scientific duty: “We are progressive because we are students of science. We are simply asking questions they are refusing to answer.”
Kharge called for greater accountability, fair fiscal returns, transparent institutions, and recognition of southern strengths without penalising them.
