Bengaluru, Aug 21: A delegation of Karnataka BJP leaders on Thursday submitted a complaint to the State Election Commission demanding legal action over recent remarks made by former Minister C.M. Ibrahim, who alleged that votes were purchased in favour of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the 2018 Assembly elections.
The BJP delegation, comprising former MLCs C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Captain Ganesh Karnik, Arun Shahapur, and State Legal Cell Convenor Vasantha Kumara, argued that Ibrahim’s statements amounted to an admission of corrupt practices under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
In a recent public speech, Ibrahim reportedly said that he and Congress leader Chimmanakatti had bought 3,000 votes in the Badami constituency on Siddaramaiah’s behalf, using borrowed money, which was later repaid by the Chief Minister. Videos of this statement have since gone viral in the media.
“This constitutes a serious violation of election laws and undermines the sanctity of the democratic process,” the BJP leaders said in their complaint. They also criticized the Congress leadership for failing to issue a denial or clarification on Ibrahim’s claim.
The delegation further highlighted a separate video of Arsikere Congress MLA Shivalingegowda, who allegedly suggested distributing ₹7 crore at ₹500 per vote during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Hassan. Such remarks, they said, also fell under corrupt practices and demanded immediate legal action.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to summon Ibrahim and Shivalingegowda to provide evidence supporting their claims and to conduct an impartial investigation. They cautioned that failure to act decisively would embolden political leaders to make reckless statements, thereby eroding public faith in the electoral system.
The complaint called for strict enforcement of election laws under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
