Case registered against BJP's Tejasvi Surya for seeking votes in name of religion

BJP's Tejasvi Surya is contesting from Bengaluru South against Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy

The Election Commission of India on April 26 registered a case against Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, for posting a video on social media platform X and asking for votes in the name of religion.

The case was booked against the BJP MP by the chef electoral officer of Karnataka.

“Case is booked against Tejasvi Surya MP and Candidate of Bengaluru South PC on 25.04.24 at Jayanagar PS u/s 123(3) for posting a video in X handle and soliciting votes on the ground of religion,” the election officer for the state said on X.

Earlier in the day after casting his vote, the BJP candidate urged the voters to come out and vote. He said, “Millions of people will go out and vote... This is not just a right, but also a duty, because if we don't vote, we are not registering our voice, and contributing meaningfully to a democracy... Just like every year, more senior citizens are seen at the booths, they are coming out in big numbers to vote. I wish young people draw inspiration from senior citizens and also come out in big numbers and vote.”

Surya also attacked the Congress. “Congress party has become absolutely frustrated. Survey after survey shows that it may not win more than 30 seats... The more personal attacks and baseless allegations they make against the PM, history has shown that the Prime Minister has only gotten stronger and the BJP has only gotten popular,” he said.

Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy from the Bengaluru South constituency.

Voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 88 constituencies took place on April 26. Karnataka voted on 14 seats out of a total of 28 constituencies.

The general elections will happen in seven phases with the last phase set to take place on June 1 and the results on June 4.