'Bribery, Undue Influence': Case Against DK Shivakumar For Model Code Violation During Election Campaign

An FIR was registered against Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday for violating of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

The case is in connection with a purported viral video of Shivakumar, where he is seen seeking votes from residents of a housing society in Bengaluru’s RR Nagar. He allegedly promised them regular water supply, a CA site and other benefits if they voted for his brother, DK Suresh.

Soon after, the Bharatiya Janata Party had taken a swipe at the Congress leader for his “brazen abuse of power”. Sharing the video on X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said, “DK Shivakumar, Deputy CM of Karnataka, in brazen abuse of power, holds voters of a large housing society in his brother DK Suresh’s constituency, to ransom.”

“Sounding every bit menacing, he wields a threat, couched in crass humour, that if the residents don’t vote for his brother, he would know (since their vote is in 2/3 booths) and not provide water and CA site…,” he further said in his post.

According to Malviya’s post, Shivakumar said, “I have come here for business deal.. there are 2,500 houses with 6,000 votes… You need CA site and Cauvery Water… if I get this done, what will you give to me?”

He noted that such threats and quid pro quo moves are “unacceptable”.

“If he doesn’t, then the BJP will, when they come to power. But such threats and quid pro quo for delivering what one has been voted for is UNACCEPTABLE,” Malviya wrote.

He tagged the Election Commission on the post and urged them to take note of the “multiple violations and intimidation” here.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka on Saturday, took to X and said, “An FIR is lodged by the FST of Bengaluru against Dy. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for violation of MCC while addressing apartment owners in RR Nagara. The FIR No.78/2024 at RMC Yard PS is lodged u/s 171(B)(C)(E)(F) of IPC for bribery and undue influence at elections.”

Shivakumar can also be heard saying, “You have to share your confidence with me so I that I will care for you…I am DCM, minister for BDA, Bengaluru and water — I am everything here. Today is in your hand, its your decision… I have come to your home, utilise me, vote for me. I’ll get all these things done within two-three months.”

Residents of Bengaluru have been struggling with water crisis for more than a month and the soaring temperatures and no rain has not made it any easy for the city. Cauvery river and groundwater are the main two sources of water for the prime city.

Last month, it was reported that around 50 per cent of the borewells in Bengaluru had dried up. The city, on an average, required 2,600 million litres of water each day. However, it currently has only half of their requirement. The daily struggle has severely affected the lives of Bengaluru residents.

The state of Karnataka will go into polling in two phases — April 26 and May 7 — for the Lok Sabha elections, the results for which are to be expected on June 4.

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