BJP’s Jeevaraj sworn in as MLA, CM Siddaramaiah cries foul

Assembly Speaker UT Khader Fareed on Wednesday administered the oath to BJP MLA DN Jeevaraj, who has been declared elected from Sringeri in a recount of postal ballots taken up on high court orders. Jeevaraj, who had lost to Congress candidate TD Raje Gowda in Sringeri in the assembly polls in May 2023, was declared elected on May 3, three years after the election.

Wednesday's swearing-in event followed a complaint from a BJP delegation led by Opposition leader R Ashoka who met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and complained over the delay. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, described the outcome from the recount of postal ballots as a conspiracy by the BJP and said the Congress would challenge the result in a court of law.

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He alleged that 255 votes that were cast in favour of Raje Gowda had been invalidated with the BJP conspiracy. The BJP was in power during the counting of postal ballots in May 2023, Siddaramaiah said. The High Court, however, on Tuesday stayed an FIR registered by the Chikmagalur Police against the election authorities on charges that they tampered with the postal ballot papers in Sringeri after the declaration of results in the 2023 assembly polls.

Assembly Speaker UT Khader Fareed on Wednesday administered the oath to BJP MLA DN Jeevaraj, who has been declared elected from Sringeri in a recount of postal ballots taken up on high court orders.

Jeevaraj, who had lost to Congress candidate TD Raje Gowda in Sringeri in the assembly polls in May 2023, was declared elected on May 3, three years after the election.

Wednesday's swearing-in event followed a complaint from a BJP delegation led by Opposition leader R Ashoka who met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and complained over the delay.

Also Read: HC stays FIR on election officials after BJP declared winner in Sringeri assembly seat

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, described the outcome from the recount of postal ballots as a conspiracy by the BJP and said the Congress would challenge the result in a court of law.

He alleged that 255 votes that were cast in favour of Raje Gowda had been invalidated with the BJP conspiracy. The BJP was in power during the counting of postal ballots in May 2023, Siddaramaiah said.

The High Court, however, on Tuesday stayed an FIR registered by the Chikmagalur Police against the election authorities on charges that they tampered with the postal ballot papers in Sringeri after the declaration of results in the 2023 assembly polls.