Voter bribes claimed as key Indian state holds election

KARNATAKA ELECTION

BANGALORE: Claims of dirty tricks made by India’s two main parties cast a cloud over voting in a key Indian state yesterday after nearly 10,000 voting cards were seized by election authorities, reports AFP.

The opposition Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics in the seven decades since independence, is fighting to retain its last major state, Karnataka, amid a fierce battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party. Voting was postponed in one constituency after the discovery of the voting cards, which authorities suspect were obtained through bribes. Police have launched an investigation.

The state election commission said there was a plot to “vitiate the poll process” in Rajarajeshwari Nagar district of the state capital Bangalore.

Congress and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused each other over the fraud. Voting in the district was pushed back to May 28.

Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across the state of 65 million people for voting. The results, which will have a major impact on campaigning for a national election next year, are to be announced on Tuesday. A rainstorm on Friday again exposed Bangalore’s over-stretched infrastructure with traffic snarls, waterlogging and overflowing drains. The two parties urged voters to brave the disruption and turn out in force.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to party workers to “provide all possible assistance to those affected by heavy rains.

“Our polling booth teams must remain alert and must help voters facing difficulties in reaching polling booths,” he added in a Twitter statement.

Modi also sought to rally supporters as some voters complained of having to wade through muddy pools to get to voting stations.

“Urging my sisters and brothers of Karnataka to vote in large numbers today.

 

Voter bribes claimed as key Indian state holds election

KARNATAKA ELECTION

BANGALORE: Claims of dirty tricks made by Indias two main parties cast a cloud over voting in a key Indian state yesterday after nearly 10,000 voting cards were seized by election authorities, reports AFP. The opposition Congress party, which has dominated Indian politics in the seven decades since independence, is fighting to retain its last major state, Karnataka, amid a fierce battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Hindu nationalist party. Voting was postponed in one constituency after the discovery of the voting cards, which authorities suspect were obtained through bribes. Police have launched an investigation. The state election commission said there was a plot to vitiate the poll process in Rajarajeshwari Nagar district of the state capital Bangalore. Congress and Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused each other over the fraud. Voting in the district was pushed back to May 28. Tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across the state of 65 million people for voting. The results, which will have a major impact on campaigning for a national election next year, are to be announced on Tuesday. A rainstorm on Friday again exposed Bangalores over-stretched infrastructure with traffic snarls, waterlogging and overflowing drains. The two parties urged voters to brave the disruption and turn out in force. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to party workers to provide all possible assistance to those affected by heavy rains. Our polling booth teams must remain alert and must help voters facing difficulties in reaching polling booths, he added in a Twitter statement. Modi also sought to rally supporters as some voters complained of having to wade through muddy pools to get to voting stations. Urging my sisters and brothers of Karnataka to vote in large numbers today.