The Congress party has launched its Vote Adhikar Rally in Bengaluru today, holding a large-scale protest at Freedom Park to highlight what it claims is serious electoral fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka. Senior party leaders, workers, and supporters have gathered in significant numbers, raising slogans and demanding immediate action to address alleged manipulation of voter rolls and results.

According to the Congress, its internal study of the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in Bengaluru revealed irregularities in voting patterns, which the party claims point to large-scale vote theft. Leaders allege that discrepancies between the number of registered voters and actual votes counted, coupled with suspicious patterns in voter lists, suggest an organised effort to alter election outcomes.

Party spokespersons have emphasised that this is not merely a local issue but a threat to India’s democratic process, accusing the ruling establishment of turning a blind eye to election malpractices. “If the sanctity of the ballot is compromised, democracy itself is at risk,” said a senior Congress leader addressing the rally.

The protest, attended by state-level and national Congress figures, has been described as a “fight for the right to vote” and aims to mobilise public opinion against what the party calls systematic disenfranchisement. Placards bearing slogans like “Defend Democracy, Save the Vote” and “No to Election Fraud” were prominently displayed.

Security has been tightened around Freedom Park, with police personnel deployed to manage the crowd and ensure that the demonstration remains peaceful. Traffic diversions have been put in place in key areas of central Bengaluru to prevent congestion.

The Congress claims that its Mahadevapura report highlights discrepancies such as duplicate voter entries, missing names, and mismatched addresses. The party has demanded a full-scale investigation by the Election Commission, along with reforms to improve transparency in electoral rolls and the counting process.

Beyond Mahadevapura, party leaders argue that similar issues were observed in other parts of Karnataka during the 2024 elections. They allege that such practices not only affect results in a particular constituency but also undermine the fairness of the democratic process across the state.

Political analysts note that the rally comes at a time when the Congress is seeking to strengthen its position in Karnataka ahead of upcoming municipal and assembly elections. While the party has been in power in the state since 2023, it suffered significant setbacks in the last Lok Sabha polls, losing several key seats to its main rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP, on its part, has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, accusing the Congress of creating unrest to cover up its poor performance in the general elections. BJP leaders argue that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka were conducted under the strict supervision of the Election Commission, leaving little room for manipulation.

The Vote Adhikar Rally is part of a broader political campaign by the Congress to press for electoral reforms, including stronger voter ID verification, real-time auditing of polling data, and stricter penalties for those found guilty of tampering with the electoral process.

At the protest, several Congress leaders reiterated their commitment to taking the fight beyond the streets by raising the issue in both the Karnataka Assembly and the Parliament. They have warned that if the Election Commission does not act on their complaints, the party will consider nationwide demonstrations.

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