BJP's Tejasvi Surya booked for 'seeking votes on religious grounds'
Bengaluru South sitting MP and the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate from the same seat Tejasvi Surya was booked by the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka for posting a video on X in which he "solicited votes on the ground of religion." A case was lodged against the BJP leader at Jayanagar Police Station, Bengaluru, reports said. The CEO posted the update on X amid polling on the seat where Surya's contest is against the Congress's Sowmya Reddy.
Surya booked for posting video
According to reports, Surya has been booked in response to a video posted by him of "Surya Tilak" being performed at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. The post said, "Our generation was blessed to witness...Surya Tilak...A wait for almost 500 years and a wish of crores of Bharatiyas was fulfilled by...[PM Narendra Modi]...For Bharatiyata to survive, vote for BJP!" The case was registered under Section 123(3A) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951. Surya is yet to comment on the matter.
Read Surya's post here
Surya hits out at Congress after voting
Surya cast his vote early in the day. Talking to ANI at the poll booth, he mounted an attack on 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 got stronger and the BJP has only got more popular," he added.
Surya's message to first time voters
He also encouraged people to go out and vote in large numbers. "Today is a celebration day in Karnataka. it is a festival of democracy...This is not just a right, but also a duty," he said. "Just like every year, more senior citizens are seen at the booths... I wish young people draw inspiration from senior citizens and also come out in big numbers and vote," he told ANI.
Polling in 14 Karnataka seats today
As many as 14 seats in Karnataka went to polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday. In total, 88 Lok Sabha constituencies across India saw polling today. To recall, the first phase was held on April 19 and the subsequent phases will be held on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.
