As the second phase of Lok Sabha elections unfolds in Karnataka, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) announced on Friday that a case has been filed against Tejasvi Surya, the sitting BJP MP and candidate for Bangalore South. The charges stem from an alleged video posted on Twitter in which Surya is accused of soliciting votes based on religious grounds, violating the election code of conduct. The case was registered against the national president of the BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, on Thursday.
Of the 28 constituencies in Karnataka, 14 are casting their ballots in the second phase. The remaining 14 will participate in the third phase of voting on May 7. The CEO announced the case on Twitter, stating that it was registered against Surya under Section 123(3) for posting the video and seeking votes on religious grounds.
The Bangalore South seat has been a stronghold of the BJP for eight consecutive terms since 1996. Surya, who made his debut in the 2019 elections, defeated senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad by over 3.30 lakh votes. The constituency has an electorate of over 22 lakh and has consistently elected BJP MPs. The contest in Bangalore South this year is between Surya and Sowmya Reddy of the Congress, who narrowly lost the Assembly elections in Jayanagar by just 16 votes in 2023. As of Friday afternoon, Karnataka’s voter turnout has reached nearly 51%.
