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News18
7 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Votes ‘Bought' For Siddaramaiah? BJP MP Seeks Probe Into 2018 Badami Election
In a letter to the CEC, Lahar Singh Siroya urged the commission to take cognizance of ex-JDS state president CM Ibrahim's 'revelations of gross electoral corruption' A political storm is brewing in Karnataka following revelations by former Janata Dal (Secular) state president, CM Ibrahim, about alleged vote buying during the 2018 assembly elections. The issue has been brought to the fore by BJP Member of Parliament Lahar Singh Siroya, who has formally petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to investigate the matter. In a letter to the CEC, Siroya urged the commission to take cognizance of Ibrahim's 'revelations of gross electoral corruption". The controversy stems from a video clip of Ibrahim, a prominent political figure, where he claimed to have 'purchased" 3,000 votes for chief minister Siddaramaiah, who was contesting from the Badami constituency. Speaking at an event in Mysuru, Ibrahim recounted a conversation with Siddaramaiah after his lead had dwindled significantly. 'His lead came down from 10,000 to 1,000. I told him he will win by 1,000 odd votes, we took a loan and we have purchased 3,000 votes. I have no fear telling this," Ibrahim stated. He also claimed that Siddaramaiah had paid for the purchase, albeit six months later. Siddaramaiah, in response to the allegations, distanced himself from Ibrahim's claims. 'Is CM Ibrahim in our party? It's a different matter that we were together then," he said, downplaying his association with Ibrahim during the 2018 elections. Siddaramaiah also stated that he had only campaigned for one day in Badami after filing his nomination. The numbers from the 2018 election add a layer of complexity to the situation. Siddaramaiah's victory margin in Badami was a narrow 1,696 votes. Notably, the number of NOTA (None of the Above) votes cast was 2,007, exceeding his victory margin. This was also the election where Siddaramaiah lost his traditional seat of Chamundeshwari. In his letter, Siroya highlighted Ibrahim's prominent role in the Congress party in 2018. 'Ibrahim was a prominent Congress leader in 2018, and by all references and claims, was in charge of his friend's election," Siroya wrote. He further called on Ibrahim to 'do us a great favour if he tells us how, and from whom, he purchased the 3,000 votes to save his friend". The BJP MP emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that the allegations come from a former lawmaker and Union minister. Siroya's letter seeks a thorough investigation by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ascertain the facts and hold those responsible accountable for what he terms 'electoral corruption". The development has brought the 2018 Badami election back into the spotlight, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process. view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 15:48 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Assembly bypolls results: BJP's Rajendra Chavda wins Kadi by over 39,000 votes
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained the Kadi Assembly seat in Gujarat with its candidate Rajendrakumar Chavda securing the victory by a margin of 39,452 votes over his rival. The bypoll, necessitated following the death of BJP MLA Karsanbhai Solanki, concluded with a voter turnout of 56.89 per cent on June 19, according to the Election Commission of India. Rajendra Chavda bagged 99,742 votes, while Congress candidate Ramesh Chavda polled 60,290 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party's Jagdish Chavda managed just 3,090 votes, and 1,701 votes were cast for the None of the Above (NOTA) option. The BJP maintained a consistent lead through all 22 rounds of counting since it began at 8 a.m. on Monday. Celebrating the result, the MLA-elect credited the victory to the party organisation and public faith in the government. 'This is a mandate for development and governance. The voters have once again reposed their trust in the BJP's way of working,' said Chavda. With this win, the BJP's tally in the 182-member Gujarat Legislative Assembly has now gone up from 161 to 162 seats, further consolidating its already dominant position. The by-election saw a total of eight candidates in the fray, though the primary battle remained between the BJP and the Congress. Among the smaller players were the Shankersinh Vaghela-led Prajashakti Democratic Party, Bharatiya Jan Parishad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party, Aapki Awaz Party, and the AAP, which contested separately from Congress despite being part of the national INDIA bloc. The Kadi Assembly constituency in Gujarat's Mehsana district is a bellwether seat in North Gujarat, a region with 32 Assembly segments, where the BJP has historically performed well. In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP won 26 of these 32 seats, including Kadi. The constituency falls under the Mahesana Lok Sabha seat, which the BJP has held since 2009. Kadi has over 2.5 lakh registered voters, predominantly from agrarian and OBC communities, making it a strategic touchpoint for gauging rural sentiment.
Mint
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Is Election Commission doing enough for electoral reforms in India? Ashok Lavasa responds
Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said on 10 June that it may not be fair to say that the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not take initiatives to suggest electoral reforms in the country. However, Lavasa suggested that it might be fair to say that the poll panel did not push these reforms enough. 'If you ask the Election Commission of India, they will give you ample instances with dates where they have proposed electoral reforms to the government, and they have been repeatedly pursuing those reforms, but that is the extent to which they can go, and that is what they have been doing," Lavasa said. The former Election Commissioner was speaking during a webinar on 'Is it time to give NOTA more teeth?' organised by the election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). "Even today, there must be a list of 40-50 electoral reforms, which are lying in the government's consideration, which ECI has periodically pushed,' Lavasa said, responding to a question on the poll panel's initiatives on electoral reforms. Lavasa resigned as Election Commissioner in August 2020 after his appointment as a vice-president at the Asian Development Bank was announced in July. Lavasa, a retired IAS officer of the 1980 batch, had been appointed Election Commissioner in 2018 and was in the running to become the Chief Election Commissioner when CEC Sunil Arora retired in April 2021. "So, it may not be totally fair to say that they have not taken the initiative to suggest electoral reforms. It might be fair to say that they have not pushed it enough, but I don't know what pushing enough means," he said. Since 2013, None of the Above, or NOTA, has been included as a choice on ballot papers in Indian elections. By expressing a preference for NOTA, a voter can choose not to endorse any candidate in the elections. It might be fair to say that they have not pushed these reforms enough. Since its introduction, NOTA has gained popularity among voters, securing more votes than some candidates in Lok Sabha and assembly elections and, in some instances, more votes than the winning candidate in panchayat elections. But the NOTA votes are ineffective, raising questions about the validity of the option. 'But despite several efforts by the Supreme Court, the spirit behind suggesting NOTA to nudge political parties to improve the quality of candidates , I don't think has served the purpose and therefore, needs more teeth,' Lavasa said.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Morning news wrap: Houses of two local terrorists involved in Pahalgam terror attack demolished, search operation launched in Bandipora; and more
Representative Image Several critical developments unfolded across geopolitics, national security, and sports- from demolishing the local terrorists' houses and the Jal Shakti ministry giving a befitting reply to Pakistan to an encounter that broke out in Bandipora. Meanwhile, the Election Commission informed the Supreme Court that the NOTA option has been largely ineffective and RCB's first Chinnaswamy win of IPL 2025. Houses of local terrorists, involved in Pahalgam terror attack, demolished The Jammu and Kashmir administration demolished the houses of two local terrorists Adil Thokar and Asif Shaikh allegedly linked to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26. Thokar legally traveled to Pakistan in 2018, where he reportedly received terror training before returning covertly. Intelligence sources indicate he acted as a guide and logistics coordinator for Pakistani terrorists involved in the attack, prompting the government's action against his property. Read full story by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Encounter breaks out between terrorists & security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora A gunfight erupted between terrorists and security forces in the Kulnar Bazipora area of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday. The encounter began after security forces launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs about terrorist presence. The operation escalated when the militants opened fire. Follow live updates India writes to Pakistan, says suspending Indus Waters Treaty with immediate effect, cites cross-border terrorism India has formally notified Pakistan that the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, following Pakistan's warning that any water diversion would be an "act of war." Citing persistent cross-border terrorism and Pakistan's refusal to engage in treaty-mandated negotiations, India stated that security concerns have hindered its treaty rights. The decision marks a significant escalation in India-Pakistan tensions over water sharing and regional stability. Read full story NOTA a 'failed idea', EC and Centre tell Supreme Court The Election Commission and Centre told the Supreme Court that the 2013 mandate introducing the NOTA (None of the Above) option has failed to impact elections meaningfully, as very few voters use it. Opposing a PIL seeking elections even with a single candidate to gauge support against NOTA, they argued uncontested polls are extremely rare. The Supreme Court suggested deliberations on setting a minimum vote threshold for winning candidates through parliamentary discussion. Read full story Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeats Rajasthan Royals by eleven runs, first victory at Chinnaswamy Stadium Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrilled home fans with an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals in IPL Match 42 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Virat Kohli ended his home drought with a stunning 42-ball 70, blending composure with bursts of aggression. Supported by Padikkal's 50 off 27 balls and late cameos from Tim David and Jitesh Sharma, RCB posted a strong 205/5 after a nervy start, sealing a much-needed victory. Read full story
