Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 11: In a major political development, the Supreme Court of India on Monday, May 11, issued an interim order staying the recent recount of postal ballots in the Sringeri assembly constituency. The decision comes as a massive relief to Congress leader T D Rajegowda, who will now continue as the legitimate MLA of the constituency.
Hearing an urgent appeal filed by Rajegowda challenging the Karnataka High Court's recount order, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran ordered the maintenance of the status quo. This effectively quashes the recent recount process that had favored BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj. During the hearing, the bench reportedly made a strong oral observation, stating, "We will not allow democracy to be hijacked like this."
The legal battle stems from the 2023 assembly elections, where Rajegowda defeated BJP's Jeevaraj by a narrow margin of 201 votes. Alleging electoral malpractice, Jeevaraj approached the High Court seeking a recount of the postal ballots. The High Court subsequently ruled in his favor and ordered the recount.
During the recount held on May 2, officials invalidated 255 of Rajegowda's postal votes, overturning the original result and declaring D N Jeevaraj as the winning candidate. Following the Election Commission's declaration of Jeevaraj as the new MLA, an aggrieved Rajegowda immediately approached the apex court.
Appearing for Rajegowda, the legal counsel argued that while the High Court had only directed the reverification of 279 'rejected' postal ballots, the returning officers unlawfully reverified and invalidated 562 valid postal ballots that were originally cast in Rajegowda's favor. The counsel also pointed out that despite dismissing Jeevaraj's allegations of corrupt practices, the High Court had still ordered a recount, a move they termed legally questionable.
Divine intervention sought
Following his sudden loss of the MLA seat after the May 2 recount, Rajegowda, accompanied by Congress workers, had visited various religious shrines in his constituency to seek justice. He offered special prayers at the Sri Kopada Veerabhadraswamy Temple in Koppa, the Jamia Masjid, and the Nithyadhara Mathe Church. Meanwhile, BJP leaders had visited Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
Speaking after offering prayers at the Veerabhadraswamy Temple last Saturday, Rajegowda had stated, "I am praying with the firm belief that Lord Veerabhadraswamy punishes wrongdoers. I won the 2023 elections legitimately, but during the recount, 257 of my valid votes were invalidated to ensure my defeat. I have complete faith in the religious shrines, the Election Commission, and the judiciary. If I have committed any wrong, let the Lord punish me. If not, the wrongdoers must be punished so severely that they never dare to ask for votes again. If I am found to be at fault, I swear before God that I will retire from politics."