Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Karnataka’s Minister for Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises, has openly blamed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its perceived inaction against instances of ‘vote theft’. He underscored the ECI’s inherent power as an independent, autonomous body to intervene in such matters.
The Minister voiced his concerns during a signature campaign held in Yadgir on Sunday, which aimed to gather public support against alleged electoral malpractice.
Darshanapur claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has resorted to ‘Vote Chori’ (vote theft) to secure victories for its candidates in various elections, not just within Karnataka but across the country. He further asserted that the Congress party has been a vocal opponent of these alleged tactics. Despite the ECI’s crucial role in conducting transparent and fair elections, and its mandate to enable citizens to elect capable representatives, the Minister expressed disappointment that the body has not yet taken decisive action.
In response, the Congress party is continuing its widespread protest against ‘Vote Chori’, actively collecting signatures to present a compelling case to the Election Commission and urge immediate preventative measures against such fraudulent practices.
Other prominent figures, including AICC Secretary Gopinath Palaniyappan, MLC and KPCC working president A. Vasant Kumar, and MLA Channareddy Patil Tunnur, also spoke at the event, reinforcing the party’s stance on the issue.