Meet BBMP corporator Mr one-man-five-votes

B S Venkataswamy, a close confidant of State Home Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, won the BBMP polls from Chikkalasandra (ward number 183).

"Naidu's case is just the tip of the iceberg," said a voter from the ward. "I have seen names of thousands of bogus voters included in the list in this manner.

B S Venkataswamy Naidu, theu00a0 BJP coporator from Chikkalasandra, will be sworn in today.

Many of his supporters, who are not from the ward he contested from, voted for him on the poll day because their names had already been included in the voters' list."

As per records in MiD DAY's possession, B S Venkataswamy, the son of Subbiah Naidu, a resident of KSRTC Layout, which falls in Vasantapura Ward (197), has registered his name as a voter from four different addresses in the ward. B S Venkataswamy's name also features in the neighbouring Chikkalasandra ward.

The name was entered in the revised electoral rolls just two days prior to the polls held in March.

"Venkataswamy Naidu had planned to contest from Vasanthapura, as it is his locality," said a source.

"However, after the ward was reserved for women, he had to move to Chikkalasandra.

So, he got his name included in the Chikkalasandra rolls but did not find it necessary to delete the multiple entries in Vasanthapura electoral rolls.

While it is not clear if he exercised his franchise more than once on the basis of the multiple mention his names find in the rolls, there were several who polled proxy votes," the witness said.

When the records were shown, Venkataswamy said, "I have houses in different localities and addresses. Maybe, these are all wrong entries.
u00a0
I have not encouraged proxy votes. I grew up under the influence of Gandhians like Dr H Narasimhiah. I would never do such a thing."

Raghavendra Prasad, returning officer of the ward concerned, for the BBMP polls, said, "One would have to check if his name was deleted on the multiple occasions it incorrectly featured in the rolls. If a poll candidate has allowed this is to go uncorrected, it should be seen as fraud.

However, I would not like to comment on the specifics of this case without consulting the assistant electoral returning officer."

State Election Commissioner GR Chikmatt refused to comment. "I am not aware of the issue," Chikmatt said.

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