Congress Bribed K’taka Voters in Hebbal and Lottegollahalli: BJP

The BJP said that they had proof of the Congress candidate in Hebbal distributing bribes, on CCTV camera.

The BJP has alleged that Congress candidates in the Lottegollahalli and Hebbal constituency – where re-polling was conducted at certain booths on 14 May – bribed voters with ‘gifts’ to encourage them to vote for the party.

As reported by The Times of India, the blame was also placed against Rajarajeshwarinagar incumbent MLA.

According to the BJP’s claims, supporters of Byrathi Suresha, the Congress candidate contesting from Hebbal, were distributing jewellery and money to voters about 100 m from a polling station in the region.

The BJP members making these accusations said that they had evidence of Suresh’s supporters bribing the voters on CCTV camera, and that despite this, the police and the election commission did not take them seriously, the report adds.

Retaliating against this, dozens of BJP supporters gathered in front of the building which they said Suresh was using to bribe the voters, and shouted slogans against the Congress. 

In a tweet, BJP MLA for Hebbel, YA Narayanaswamy, said:

Vidya Seenappa's flat in Anriya Palatial was used by congress candidate Suresha as a front for distributing cash today for Repolling in booth 2 in hebbal. He goes in at 9:30 and two congress workers get cash out at 10:49. Evidence has been given to EC and police.

— Dr.Y A Narayanaswamy (@YANHebbalMLA) May 14, 2018

A female BJP supporter added to these claims, saying that when she had gone forth into the building to inquire about what was happening behind the closed doors, the Congress workers had broken her chain.

Two women residents of the building said that they had “proof” that the Congress workers and another woman resident had distributed money and gold coins to the voters on Sunday night and Monday morning.

Retaliating to the accusations, Congress members, as reported by The Times of India, said that Suresh was at the building in question because he had gone to have breakfast with a friend.

Congress candidate Munirathna, who has also been accused of bribing voters to turn their favour towards the Congress, admitted that saris were indeed distributed, but only on the occasion of Sankranti, which was on 14 January.

(With inputs from The Times of India)

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