Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's Election Challenged In High Court; Petitioner Says Congress Offer Of 'Freebies' Amounts To Electoral Malpractice

An Election petition has been filed in the Karnataka High Court seeking to set aside the election of Chief Minister Siddaramiah from Varuna Assembly constituency alleging that he committed electoral malpractices in the 2023 assembly elections. 

The petitioner K M Shankara, who is a voter from the constituency, alleges that the Congress party promised "freebies" on coming to power and that seeking votes on such promises amounts to a corrupt practice.

The Congress party's manifesto provided five guarantees to the people of Karnataka: 'Gruha Jyothi' - 200 units of free electricity to all houses, 'Gruha Lakshmi' - ₹2,000 every month to each and every woman head of a family, 'Anna Bhagya' - 10 kilograms of food grain per month to every member of a below poverty line (BPL) family, 'Yuva Nidhi' - ₹3,000 per month for two years to unemployed graduates and ₹1,500 per month for two years to unemployed diploma holders and 'Uchita Prayana/Shakthi' - free travel to all women throughout the state in regular KSRTC/BMTC Buses.

“The five guarantees are the corrupt practices amounting to bribery and also undue influence under section 123(2) of the Representation of People Act. The said guarantees are in the nature of offer and promises made by the candidate and by the Indian National Congress party. They are in the form of gratification to the electorate of Varuna constituency and with the object of directly inducing the electorate to vote for the congress party candidate—Siddaramiah", the petition reads.

It is claimed that the above government policies are contrary to the directive principles of the State policy. The petitioner sought that Siddaramaiah's election be rendered void and that he be debarred from contesting elections for six years due to his violation of the provisions of the Act and the Constitution.

The plea came up for hearing before a Single Judge bench of Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav on Friday, which has now posted it for further hearing on July 28 and directed the petitioner to comply with the office objections raised by the registry.

Case Title: K V Shankara And Siddaramiah

Case No: EP 13/2023.