Malur recounting date fixed: The long-debated Malur Assembly constituency vote recount (Malur Recounting) has now been officially scheduled for November 11, according to the Karnataka Election Commission (KEC).
Following the court’s directive for a recount, the political atmosphere in Malur has heated up with sharp exchanges between the sitting MLA K.Y. Nanjegowda and former MLA K.S. Manjunath Gowda.
The recount order comes after Manjunath Gowda, who lost the 2023 Assembly election, approached the court alleging irregularities in vote counting and handling of election materials. Acting on his plea, the court instructed the Election Commission to conduct a transparent recount, leading to a renewed political storm in Kolar district.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of Karnataka, Manjunath Gowda alleged that certain election materials had been illegally retained by the Malur Tahsildar, violating election protocol.
“According to the mandatory procedures of the Election Commission of India, all polling and counting materials should be sealed in the presence of officials and stored in the strong room at the Kolar DC office. However, some materials are still with the Tahsildar, which is a breach of procedure,” he stated.
Gowda demanded that the materials be immediately seized and placed back in the strong room in the presence of all stakeholders to ensure fairness. He also insisted that the matter be brought before the Supreme Court to safeguard the transparency of the process.
Speaking to reporters, Manjunath Gowda asserted that the upcoming recount would amount to a “re-election,” hinting at alleged manipulation during the previous count.
However, the incumbent MLA K.Y. Nanjegowda hit back sharply, saying, “The complainant is daydreaming about a re-election and misleading the people of Malur. The court has ordered a recount, not a new election. Politics is one thing and the judiciary is another — let the court decide. I am confident that I will win the recount with double the margin.”
Officials confirmed that the recounting process would follow strict guidelines laid out by the Election Commission. Although the recount will take place on November 11, the results will not be immediately announced. The final outcome will be sealed and submitted to the Supreme Court, which will make the final declaration of the result.
Also Read: Woman Plotting Bombing Incident to Obtain Arms License, Police Reveal
