Santosh Lad alleges poll irregularities, targets Election Commission over results
Bengaluru : Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging irregularities in recent election outcomes in West Bengal and Assam.
Reacting to the results of the five-state elections and bypolls, Lad claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party had benefited due to alleged вмешательство by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “In Assam, the ‘man of the match’ and ‘man of the series’ is Gyanesh Kumar,” he remarked sarcastically.
The minister further alleged that nearly 90 lakh votes were deleted in West Bengal in a selective manner to weaken the Trinamool Congress. “Votes were removed strategically to defeat TMC. This is not a natural mandate but manipulation,” he said, accusing authorities of influencing the electoral process.
Despite his criticism, Lad acknowledged that his party performed as expected in bypolls, winning two seats. “People have supported our government’s programmes and the efforts of our leaders and workers,” he said.
He also referred to political developments in Tamil Nadu, calling actor-politician Vijay’s electoral performance a “surprise,” noting that his party secured around 35% of the vote share. “All the best to Vijay,” he added, while stating that any alliance decisions would be taken by the party high command.
Lad further demanded electoral reforms, suggesting that linking Aadhaar with voter ID could eliminate discrepancies. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s recent electoral setbacks, he said the BJP should first address concerns around transparency.
“If you have confidence in your system, link Aadhaar with voter lists. Technology exists. This can end all doubts,” he asserted.
Responding to questions about EVM credibility, Lad alleged that manipulations were carried out selectively. “We will present data on where votes were cut and who benefited,” he said.
His remarks are likely to intensify the ongoing political debate, as allegations and counter-allegations over electoral integrity continue to dominate national discourse.
