'Single Tender' Scandal: R Ashoka Alleges Rs 20 Crore Voter ID Scam in Karnataka
Opposition leader R Ashoka demands a CBI probe into a suspected Rs 20 crore voter ID card scam involving 90 lakh printed cards in Karnataka.
The political atmosphere in Karnataka has intensified as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, has leveled serious allegations against the state government, claiming a massive Karnataka voter ID scam involving the misappropriation of over Rs 20 crore in public funds.
Ashoka has called for a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the irregularities surrounding the printing of voter ID cards intended for corporation elections.
The 'Single Tender' Controversy
At the heart of the allegation is the manner in which the printing contract was awarded. R Ashoka claimed that the state government and the State Election Commission bypassed prescribed procedures to rush the process. He specifically highlighted that there was a "single tender", and the cards were printed immediately thereafter without competitive bidding or transparency.
The timing of the decision has also come under scrutiny. Ashoka questioned why the government proceeded with the printing process just one day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise on May 14. He argued that since the ECI had already issued voter ID cards to citizens, the creation of separate cards was unnecessary and a waste of government resources.
The Mystery of the 31 Lakh 'Ghost' Cards
One of the most startling claims made by the Opposition leader concerns the discrepancy between the number of cards printed and the actual number of registered voters. According to Ashoka:
- The government spent Rs 20 crore to print 90 lakh voter ID cards.
- However, the voter list announced after the SIR exercise shows only 59 lakh voters.
- This leaves a massive gap of 31 lakh cards that have no corresponding voter.
Ashoka questioned the whereabouts of these excess cards, noting that they were reportedly sent to the corporations for distribution four months ago. He raised a pointed question: "What about the voter ID cards for the remaining 31 lakh voters?"
Allegations of 'Fake' Cards and 'Vote Chori'
Going a step further, Ashoka alleged that the cards might be entirely fraudulent, stating, "It is fake. I think they have 100 per cent printed fake cards." To prove the validity of the cards, he challenged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to pick any constituency and personally distribute them to the public.
The Opposition leader also took a direct swipe at the Chief Minister, accusing him of being the mastermind behind electoral irregularities in the state. This comes as the state government plans a protest in Delhi on November 1 regarding alleged "vote theft." Ashoka countered this by stating that while the government alleges "vote chori" (vote theft) in Delhi, the primary person responsible for such acts in Karnataka is D K Shivakumar.
Financial Waste Amidst Treasury Woes
Ashoka further highlighted a contradiction in the government's financial narrative. He pointed out that the government has frequently expressed concerns about the state's precarious financial position and the condition of the treasury, particularly during meetings with farmers.
He argued that spending Rs 20 crore of public money on an unnecessary and potentially fraudulent exercise is an inexcusable waste of funds. Additionally, he referenced an affidavit submitted by the state government to the Supreme Court, which stated that elections would be held based on the list prepared after the SIR exercise, making the prior printing of 90 lakh cards even more inexplicable.