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Sringeri postal ballot recount: Congress MLA Raje Gowda’s tally reduced by 255 votes
Following a Karnataka High Court order on the election petition filed by BJP's defeated candidate D N Jeevaraj challenging Raje Gowda's election, the reverification and recounting took place on Saturday and continued until midnight.
Congress candidate T D Raje Gowda celebrated in Chikkamagaluru on Saturday, claiming the results were in his favour. (PTI)
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled for Congress MLA T D Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission for further decision, he said.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on the election petition filed by BJP’s defeated candidate D N Jeevaraj challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting took place on Saturday and continued until midnight.
Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes.
“The High Court on April 6 had ordered reverification and recounting. As per that order, the exercise has been completed. The court order did not direct us to announce the results; it also did not refer to EVM votes. The order was specific only to postal ballots,” returning officer Gaurav Kumar Shetty said.
Speaking to reporters late on Saturday night, he said, “During the 2023 vote counting, Jeevaraj had received 692 votes, while Raje Gowda had received 569 votes. Now, after reverification and recounting, Jeevaraj has 690 valid votes, which is two votes less than earlier, while Raje Gowda has 314 votes, a difference of 255 votes.”
Regarding allegations of vote tampering, he said the allegations are criminal in nature and do not fall under his jurisdiction.
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Jeevaraj, speaking to reporters, said, “As per the current count, I have the majority. Officials have said that the Election Commission will make the formal announcement. I will wait for the Commission’s order.” Raje Gowda expressed doubts about “vote tampering” and demanded a detailed inquiry into Jeevaraj and others.
Later, Sudheer Kumar Murolli, who served as Raje Gowda’s counting agent during 2023 assembly polls lodged a complaint at the Chikkamagaluru Town police station, alleging that 255 ballot papers cast in favour of Raje Gowda had been tampered with.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar said that Jeevaraj had conspired with some officers and tampered with the postal votes.
“More than 200 postal votes were marked using pens,” he said.
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