Accusing the BJP of indulging in ‘criminal conspiracy’ to tamper with the postal ballot papers and stealing votes in Sringeri assembly constituency, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) said that the result announced after re-counting will be challenged.

“This is vote dacoity. The BJP does not believe in fair and impartial elections. In the past too, it has tried to tamper with the voter’s list through an organisation called Chilume. In Aland, efforts were made to drop genuine voters from the list. They do not hesitate to tamper electoral process,” the Chief Minister told presspersons here, adding that it was the first of such a case of criminal conspiracy in the country.