Santhosh Lad alleges 8.4 million votes stolen in Bihar elections

Bidar: Karnataka’s Labour Minister Santhosh Lad has accused authorities of large-scale electoral manipulation in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, claiming that 8.4 million votes were “stolen”. According to Lad, 6.5 million voters were removed from the electoral rolls before the elections, while 2.5 million new names were added.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Lad questioned the legitimacy of BJP’s victory in Bihar, where the party contested 100 seats and won 90. “How did BJP manage to win 90 seats in Bihar? If you search house to house in Bengaluru, you’ll find Biharis in every home. What did they really achieve in Bihar?” he asked, emphasizing that the election results were influenced by manipulation rather than genuine voter support.

Lad also alleged that the Election Commission, under the guise of the S.I.R. scheme, removed millions of voters from the rolls, and even after the Supreme Court’s intervention, the names were not reinstated. He criticized the timing of government welfare measures, saying that just a month before the election, ₹10,000 was deposited in the accounts of girl children, questioning whether this was done for electoral gains.

“The BJP has been ruling at the Centre for 11 years. Even if the money was meant for welfare, what was the purpose behind such sudden transfers?” Lad asked, implying that the funds were strategically used to influence voters.

Lad’s statements have sparked debate among political observers, raising concerns over voter roll accuracy, alleged pre-election manipulations, and the fairness of the Bihar polls. Opposition parties are now expected to take up the issue in both state and national forums, demanding accountability from the Election Commission.

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