Bengaluru, 16 May

BJP workers filed a complaint with Election Commission against Ramoji Gowda, Congress candidate from Bengaluru Graduate constituency in Legislative Council elections, over the distribution of gifts to voters. 

The complaint filed on Thursday alleged that around 20,000 gift boxes intended for distribution to voters were found in godowns, purportedly brought by the Congress candidate's camp for the elections scheduled on 3 June. The gift items, packed and ready for distribution, were found in two separate locations in JP Nagar and Anekal. These gift items were similar to a set found in Jayanagar on Tuesday, the complaint said. 

Attibele police raided the godown in JP Nagar and recovered the gift kits that had the photographs, greetings and details of Congress candidate Gowda on their cover. The boxes contained various items, including kitchen sets, with the initials ‘RG’ imprinted on them. Election Commission officials seized the gift boxes found at the second location at a DTDC godown in Thirumagondanahalli, Anekal taluk. These gift boxes were kept ready for distribution to voters via courier. 

Taking it to X, BJP Karnataka unit hit out at Congress government saying, “#ATMSarkara who looted Kannadigar's tax and was caught illegally distributing it in elections. Ramoji Gowda, a candidate from the Bangalore Graduate Constituency of Congress, had conspired to send over 20,000 gifts by courier. Congress has reached the pathetic state of luring educated graduates for votes. The Congress candidate should be disqualified immediately.” —Salar News