‘Vote dacoity’, says Siddaramaiah as recount reverses Sringeri result

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has alleged a "criminal conspiracy" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Sringeri assembly poll recounting. He claims that valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader TD Rajegowda were tampered with during the recounting process. The recount, ordered by the Karnataka high court, resulted in BJP candidate DN Jeevaraj defeating Rajegowda by 52 votes. Siddaramaiah describes this as "vote dacoity", alleging that the BJP does not believe in fair and impartial elections.