Rahul Gandhi to participate in protest against 'votes theft' in Bengaluru on Aug 5

He said the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee will be organising a programme (protest) in this regard, following which a memorandum will be submitted to election officials here.

Bengaluru: Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a protest meeting in Bengaluru on August 5 against “vote theft” during the Lok Sabha polls last year, drawing out a sharp reaction from the opposition BJP, which described it as “funny” and “drama.”

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress president, held a meeting with his party colleagues to discuss Rahul’s August 5 event.

There are discussions in Congress circles that a protest rally should be held in Mahadevapura, which comes under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat where the BJP won by 32,707 votes.

The Congress is undecided on whether or not a protest march should be held. The BJP reminded the Congress that public protests were prohibited.

“There’s an opinion that we should organise a big meeting and a rally. On Thursday, our AICC secretaries will hold a meeting and then decide the venue (of the protest),” Shivakumar said.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister G Parameshwara noted that a 2022 High Court directive barred processions and protests in the city. “There won’t be any procession. As per the tentative plan, (Rahul) is likely to address party workers at Freedom Park and then proceed to meet to Election Commission officials to submit a memorandum,” he said.

Rahul has claimed that Congress has “concrete 100% proof” of cheating in one Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, where he said thousands of new voters aged “way above 18 years” were enrolled ahead of the polls. This was endorsed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who said Congress workers “reported sudden and suspicious additions of new voters” in “several” segments.

Shivakumar, too, has claimed that there was foul play in the Bangalore Rural constituency where his brother D K Suresh lost.

“I don’t know why (Rahul) is so confused. If the BJP can manipulate and misuse the Election Commission, then we’d not be sitting in the Opposition today,” BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said. “How did Congress win with 136 MLAs? How did the Congress win the three bye-elections?”

Vijayendra accused the Congress of “not only undermining democratic institutions, but also creating doubts among citizens about the Election Commission.” He asked Rahul, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to apologise to voters.

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the government cannot permit any protest march as per a court order. “If permission is given, BJP will fight against it,” he said.