Surabhi Hodigere Profile picture
May 14, 2023 11 tweets 7 min read Read on X
What really happened in Jayanagar and how the BJP won by 16 votes - a thread.

Keen to know what transpired in Jayanagar late last night? I was!
Read on to see what was uncovered after multiple chats with people on the ground.

#jayanagar #KarnatakaElection2023
The contest was between BJP candidate @CKRBJP Ramamurthy (ex-corporator) and INC candidate @Sowmyareddyr (incumbent MLA and daughter of congress leader Ramlinga Reddy).

As the counting of votes progressed, it was apparent that the margin of victory in #Jayanagar would be small.
Sowmya Reddy’s lead of a mere 160 votes was prematurely celebrated as a victory by Congress party. BUT there was no certificate of victory issues by the EC authorities.

What happened internally was very different - a rule in the ECI handbook for counting came into force.
What is that rule? And how did it change the entire situation in Jayanagar?

This rule clearly states that if the possible victory margin is less than the total number of postal ballots, then there should be a mandatory re-verification of ALL postal ballots.

#Jayanagar
Refer to the Handbook of Returning Officer by ECI. Further, even if the no contestant requests for a recount, the RO is mandated to conduct it. Recount gave BJP lead.

ONLY & ONLY one recount is possible - this is where all the news reports have been both ill informed and biased. Image
It was widely reported that three or four rounds of recounting happened on the behest of BJP leaders. This is far from the truth and NOT possible.

Three types of recounting was done because Ramlinga Reddy and party had descended on the counting booth as early as 5.30pm.
1) Total numerical tally
2) Vvpat - tally matching
3) Re-verification of postal votes

Unlike what was said on repeat by DKS, eyewitnesses recount that @Tejasvi_Surya and @RAshokaBJP came much later and objected that congress party had barged in, put the officers under duress
Congress leaders being present and barging in early is on cctv I am told.

No news on #Jayanagar is covering this. More shocking updates that emerged has I spoke to people was few votes were deemed invalid on frivolous grounds on the insistence of RR.

#jayanagar
Share widely, this is what happened in Jayanagar and what is just not fairly reported in the media. #Jayanagar #bengaluru

Congress leaders from other areas ended up in #Jayanagar, threatened officials and caused havoc in an place that is always grounded and well-reasoned.
The entire recounting process was done in the presence of candidates @Sowmyareddyr and @CKRBJP to the full satisfaction of all present.

It was noted that EC officials withstood and worked honestly in presence of intimidation by @DKSureshINC @DKShivakumar @RLR_BTM

#Jayanagara
Shoutout to the Jayanagara residents and BJP Karyakartas who stood tall amidst the huge presence of congress workers from else where.

Free and fair elections was seen through in Namma #Jayanagar and a win for democracy was ensured.

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More from @SurabhiHodigere

May 15, 2023
If you are concerned about the future of bengaluru, read this thread:

Our beautiful #Jayanagar, known for its old world charm has been in the news for wrong reasons. We witnessed a brand of politics we do not deserve.

Across party affiliations, I urge you to read
Jayanagar holds a very special place in the heart of many bengaluru nivasis. Sir MV planned parts of the constituency and it earned the title of the first planned layout in ASIA!

Many of us born and raised in these areas feel a sense of duty towards this legacy.
As a proud Jayanagar voter who has been on the ground for the last 4 months urging people of all party affiliations to vote, it pains me to see what is happening.

The MLA election of @CKRBJP is marred in controversy due to unchallenged hold of bengaluru by known, age old force
Read 13 tweets
May 15, 2023
Challenging RLR supporters really erks them. For many decades now, their high-handedness in BTM and Jayanagar has been overlooked.
I sincerely engaged with this person who questioned my take on the law. Clearly stated that I am also researching and understanding better. Congress claims that the issue was never recounting (which they paraded in the media before) but of non-gazetted postal votes.
I cited the law (pasted in full courtesy Vinay), that there are many options for verification of postal ballot, (c) is gazetted officer for voter on election duty and (e) specifically has NO mention of gazetted. This point has been twisted to defame when I engaged Image
Read 6 tweets
May 14, 2023
Last thread on the issue, after which I shall be on a flight & can’t do much for a few hours. #Jayanagar

Congress party is bringing in the issue of non-gazetted officer. I was asked for a clarification on this by folks in the media (commend them reaching out for diverse views).
But I didn’t have much clarity, until I read through the relevant rules. Request those commenting to do so as well.

My perception (with the caveat that I am not a lawyer and those who are in the legal profession might come to more nuanced conclusions):
There is absolutely no compulsion of ‘Gazetted’ officer to verify a postal ballot. As per
Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 (Statutory Rules and Order) no such rule.
Read 6 tweets
May 14, 2023
Addressing some comments that have come up:
1) Yes, BTM and P’Nagar also share a counting booth as Jnr. But there are constituency wise counting pools. The concern raised - WHY not just Ramlinga Reddy but also his son and some cong leaders being in the Jayanagar counting pool.
Given the power RR yields in Jayanagar (he was the MLA once) and even got a corporator to defect in 2018 election from BJP to Cong - his presence in the jnr pool (apparently on cctv) can be VERY worrying.

He should have stuck to BTM pool.

#Jayanagar #JayanagarRecounting
2) On what @Tejasvi_Surya was present - he will have to answer, my understanding was that he was present to counter RR’s undue influence within the Jayanagar counting pool.

3) On this non-gazetted vote issue that congress is tweeting to me. Pls send some rule/law on this.
Read 4 tweets

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