Row erupts over allegations of students with ‘dual votes’ ahead of bypoll in Bagalkot

ADisceptation regarding allegations of reduplicate elector registrations triggered a political change betwixt the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Bagalkot bypoll.Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar alleged that in certain wards of Bagalkot city, students from outside had been included in the local voter list while also retaining their votes in their native places. He said instructions had been issued to file a complaint with the deputy commissioner and that a separate team had been formed to identify such cases.“I have instructed that a complaint be filed with the deputy commissioner regarding this matter. We have set up a separate team to identify those who have dual votes. We are also examining whether there is a provision to arrest such individuals, and action will be taken against this at the earliest,” the deputy CM said.Responding to the remarks, former deputy chief minister and BJP member of Parliament Govind Karjol challenged the government to act against those it had accused.Addressing the media in Bagalkot on Thursday, he said, “Randeep Singh Surjewala (AICC general secretary and Karnataka incharge), the government is yours. If you have the courage, arrest student voters today itself and show us.”Karjol accused Shivakumar and Surjewala of creating fear among students by warning of possible arrests.He said such statements were dangerous for democracy and could discourage young voters from participating in the electoral process.He also said that the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state had not yet been completed and alleged that the issue was being raised out of concern over the election outcome.Karjol further alleged that grassroots workers were being used to influence voters. “ASHA and Anganwadi workers, as well as teachers, are being sent door-to-door to threaten people that if they do not vote for Congress, the five guarantee schemes will be withdrawn. This is shameful,” he said.He maintained that individuals enrolled in the voter list with valid address and Aadhaar details are eligible to vote and said that many students have been residing in Bagalkot for several years, making them legitimate voters.Karjol also criticised the involvement of senior leaders in the bypoll campaign, alleging that their extended presence in the constituency reflected a lack of confidence in governance.Referring to earlier leaders, he said former chief ministers Ramakrishna Hegde and Patel had not taken part in by-elections.He said his party’s candidate, Charantimath, had presented past achievements and future plans through a booklet and urged chief minister Siddaramaiah to present the performance of his government and legislators.Rajya Sabha member Narayanasa Bhandage, former minister N Mahesh, former MLC Arun Shahapur, state secretary Sharanu Thallikere and district president Shantagouda Patil were present.Earlier, Shivakumar and Surjewala, addressing the media jointly, accused the BJP of targeting migrant students and forcing them to vote. They said some individuals who had moved for livelihood needed to return to cast their votes and alleged that in certain wards, students had been enrolled in more than one voter list.“These students are being threatened that they must vote, or they will fail or be harassed,” they said.