Published May 05, 2026 | 6:53 PM ⚊ Updated May 05, 2026 | 6:56 PM
Siddaramaiah addressing the press conference. (X)
Synopsis: During the 2023 Assembly Elections in Karnataka, sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda (59,171 votes) had won by a thin margin of 201 votes against BJP’s DN Jeevaraj (58,970 votes) in Sringeri. However, of the 1,822 postal ballots cast, 279 were initially rejected. Jeevaraj challenged the legality of the election of Rajegowda in Karnataka High Court.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, 5 May, while addressing a press conference alleged that “BJP has engaged in a criminal conspiracy to steal votes” in Sringeri.
During the 2023 Assembly Elections in Karnataka, sitting Congress MLA TD Rajegowda (59,171 votes) had won by a thin margin of 201 votes against BJP’s DN Jeevaraj (58,970 votes) in Sringeri. However, of the 1,822 postal ballots cast, 279 were initially rejected.
Jeevaraj challenged the legality of the election of Rajegowda in Karnataka High Court. In April 2026, the court directed the Returning Officer to re-verify the 279 rejected postal ballots polled in the elections for Sringeri constituency in 2023.
Following the recount on Sunday, 3 May, Rajegowda’s tally has reduced by 255 votes, DN Jeevaraj was declared as winner, prompting celebrations by the BJP.
Also Read: Tampering allegations, competing victory claims mar Sringeri postal ballot recount
“The 250 votes that had gone to Rajegowda have been systematically tampered with. This is vote dacoity,” he said. After the recount over the weekend, Rajegowda’s postal ballot tally dropped by 255 votes.
All 170 postal votes that Rajegowda received in the third round are now invalid, Siddaramaiah said, adding that they had previously been considered valid during the vote counting.
“From our party, Sudhir Kumar Maroli was the agent. There is a record of all agents having signed in 2023. If the votes were invalid, everyone could have raised objections right then. Why didn’t anyone raise objections at that time?” he asked.
He further said that the postal ballot papers should have been submitted for forensic examination. “The declaration of election results should have been left to the court. Instead, the election officials themselves declared the results. They hurriedly declared the results without the permission of the election observers,” he said.
Pointing out that an FIR has been registered based on a complaint filed by Rajegowda, Siddaramaiah demanded than an impartial investigation be conducted in this regard.
ಗೃಹ ಕಚೇರಿ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಎರಡು ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ಉಪಚುನಾವಣೆ ಫಲಿತಾಂಶ ಹಾಗೂ ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದ ಅಂಚೆ ಮತಗಳ ಮರು ಎಣಿಕೆ ಕುರಿತು ಜಂಟಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆ. ಇದರ ಮುಖ್ಯಾಂಶಗಳು ಹೀಗಿವೆ;
• ಶೃಂಗೇರಿ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ನ ರಾಜೇಗೌಡ ಅವರು ಕಳೆದ ಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 201 ಮತಗಳ… pic.twitter.com/mzQxJqKhQh
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 5, 2026
(With inputs from Anisha Reddy)
