The Karnataka Congress on Thursday launched an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, alleging that the ruling party has corrupted the election process. Congress leaders claimed that the Basavaraj Bommai government had stolen the Kannadigas’ votes and their right to vote.

Congress leader DK Shivkumar said, “We have called for this meeting because it is the need of the hour. The image of Karnataka has become the corruption capital of India. We'll explain a few things about the rampant malpractice which is going on.”

Commenting on the allegations, CM Bommai stated that they were baseless. Responding to Congress’ attacks, CM Bommai said, “What I feel is, Congress has got bankrupt ideas. If the NGO has some people who misused their position, there will be an inquiry and action will be taken against them. All of these are just baseless allegations, let the enquiry be done and let the proof come out. We are not afraid of anything.”

Taking to Twitter on Thursday morning, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surejwala shared a two-page document that detailed how Chilume Educational & Rural Development Institute was granted permission by the Karnataka government to collect voter data.

MP Surjewala claimed, “Your vote and right to vote is being stolen by Basavaraj Bommai. I'd like to state this to all Kannadigas. The election process is now being corrupted by the 40 per cent commission sarkar. CM Basavaraj Bommai, BBMP, and ECI authorities are all partners in crime in stealing votes. These are facts I want to give to you.”

The MP elaborated by producing the document he shared on Twitter. The document stated, “Pvt Entity Chilume is connected with and owned by common owners/directors of two other entities known as 'Chilume Enterprises Pvt Ltd' and 'DAP Hombale Pvt Ltd'. The center point of the ownership is one Krishnappa Ravikumar.”

The MP further said, “The company employees state they do EVM preparation for a political party. They also offer temporary polling personnel. The same company also runs a voter app, a private survey app called Digital Sameeksha, which provides data to political parties, MPs, MLAs, corporations etc. The first fraud is collecting voter data by impersonating themselves as BLO (Booth-level officers). They do so in cahoots with Basavaraj Bommai, the BBMP, and the election authorities. They also issue them BLO Cards,” claimed MP Surejwala.

“Posing as Karnataka govt officers, they go house to house and collect information and upload it on Digital Sameeksha, not Garuda,” said the MP.

The MP then launched a barrage of questions at CM Bommai. “Who permitted Basavaraj Bommai to issue permission to a private authority, Chilume Educational Cultural and Rural Development Institute? Why was the approval for the private entity also given? Who recommended this private entity to you in the first instance? Does is not prove that all of them were together in stealing the personal information of the public?” asked Congress MP Surejwala.