Lok Sabha Election 2024: Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya booked for seeking ’votes on ground of religion’

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya was booked on Friday for posting a video on his X handle and “soliciting votes on the ground of religion”, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka said. 

The case was filed against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate under Section 123(3) (corrupt practices). The case was registered at the Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru.

The Chief Electoral Officer posted on X, “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.”

Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) prohibits candidates or their agents from appealing to voters based on religion, race, caste, community, or language, or using religious or national symbols to influence election outcomes.

Earlier in the day, Tejasvi Surya offered prayers at his residence before casting his vote in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday.

Meanwhile, Vasanth Kumar, advocate and BJP legal cell convenor said five complaints were lodged with the Election Commission on Friday.

"Today, five complaints were lodged with the Election Commission. One is canvassing and speaking to workers by CM Siddaramaiah inside a polling booth in Mysuru...another complaint is in a polling booth in Kolar constituency, one ex-councillor Venkatesh is distributing cash to voters, another complaint is AICC Youth President Srinivas is protesting...today is polling day so he is violating Model Code of Conduct," Vasanth Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying.

The voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 took place on Friday. As many as 88 constituencies in 13 states and union territories went to the polls in the second phase.

The voting in Karnataka was held on 14 seats in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. After casting his vote, Tejasvi Surya predicted that the Congress party might not win more than 30 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

Surya is in the fray from the Bengaluru South constituency as a BJP candidate. He is contesting against the Congress' Soumya Reddy. Bangalore South has been a bastion for the BJP, and the party has not been defeated from here since 1991.