{"id":10465,"date":"2025-09-05T12:54:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T12:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/05\/karnataka-congress-defends-ballot-paper-voting-for-local-polls-bjp-calls-it-worst-move-bengaluru-news-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-05T12:54:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T12:54:42","slug":"karnataka-congress-defends-ballot-paper-voting-for-local-polls-bjp-calls-it-worst-move-bengaluru-news-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/05\/karnataka-congress-defends-ballot-paper-voting-for-local-polls-bjp-calls-it-worst-move-bengaluru-news-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Karnataka Congress Defends Ballot Paper Voting For Local Polls, BJP Calls It &#8216;Worst Move&#8217; | Bengaluru-news News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9552020\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">September 05, 2025, 18:01 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9552020\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 asubttl-schema\">The BJP has strongly opposed the decision. Former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar criticised the Congress, calling it a step backwards<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and senior  BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. (PTI file photos) \" title=\"Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and senior  BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. (PTI file photos) \" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and senior  BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. (PTI file photos) <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">A political row has erupted in Karnataka over the state government\u2019s decision to recommend ballot paper voting for the upcoming local body elections. While the Congress-led government has defended the move as legally valid, the BJP has slammed it as the \u201cworst decision.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">Defending his government\u2019s decision, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said they are considering a return to ballot paper voting for local body elections.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">\u201cThere are countries that have taken back (their decision to conduct) their elections on EVM. We are thinking that local elections have to be conducted on ballot paper,&#8221; Siddaramaiah said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twtiframe\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On State\u2019 Govt\u2019s recommendation to State Election Commission to hold the local body elections on ballot paper, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says, \u201cThere are countries that have taken back (their decision to conduct) their elections on EVM. We are thinking that local elections have\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nLmd8Gp82k\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/nLmd8Gp82k<\/a>\u2014 ANI (@ANI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ANI\/status\/1963890742243299661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">September 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">Backing the CM, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, \u201cThis is the Karnataka government\u2019s decision \u2013 why is the BJP worried? The government has the authority to conduct local body elections, it is provided for in the law. Even during their tenure, the same law existed. The law says elections can be held either by ballot paper or EVMs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">Shivakumar added that the move is a political decision made with confidence in the traditional voting system.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">\u201cWe believe in our ballot system. The Govt has the power to recommend to the State Election Commission. State Election Commission will do it. Even when the amendment was passed by the BJP Govt, they had also written that either EVM or ballot. So, we have chosen to take up ballot. What is wrong in it?&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">However, the BJP has strongly opposed the decision. Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar criticised the Congress, calling it a step backwards.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">\u201cThe ballot paper system is rejected by almost all countries in the world\u2026 Now everybody is using the EVM. However, instead of that, to divert people\u2019s attention from their failure and to please Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, they took a decision yesterday to implement voting in local body elections using ballot papers,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twtiframe\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">#WATCH<\/a> | Hubballi: On Karnataka Cabinet decision to hold local elections by ballot, Former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar says, \u201c\u2026The ballot paper system is rejected by almost all countries in the world\u2026 Now everybody is using the EVM. However, instead of that,\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sfA5nxi56U\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/sfA5nxi56U<\/a>\u2014 ANI (@ANI) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ANI\/status\/1963898729645453658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">September 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Shettar also warned that ballot voting has a history of malpractice. \u201cIt is the worst decision the Congress government has taken, and it will not be good for the upcoming election. They are definitely going to fail again, and whatever happens, everyone knows what happened when ballot papers were used in the previous election,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/news-desk-17918.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">News Desk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 atbtlink Location\"><span>Location :<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Karnataka, India, India<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 atbtlink fp\"><span>First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"rs\">\n<p>September 05, 2025, 18:01 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/bengaluru-news\/\">bengaluru-news<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Karnataka Congress Defends Ballot Paper Voting For Local Polls, BJP Calls It &#8216;Worst Move&#8217;<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-3154591996 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cities\/bengaluru-news\/karnataka-congress-defends-ballot-paper-voting-for-local-polls-bjp-calls-it-worst-move-ws-l-9552020.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 18:01 IST The BJP has strongly opposed the decision. Former Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar criticised the Congress, calling it a step backwards Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. (PTI file photos) A political row has erupted in Karnataka over the state government\u2019s decision&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10465","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10465"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10465\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10465"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10465"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10465"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}