Rahul Gandhi is set to lead a protest in Bengaluru on August 5, accusing the ruling BJP of "vote theft" during the 2024 Karnataka Lok Sabha elections. According to Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the party has gathered concrete evidence supporting claims of electoral fraud. The protest will be followed by a formal representation to the Election Commission of India, demanding accountability for the alleged manipulation.

The allegations come amid growing concerns over tampered electoral rolls, a topic that gained national attention following similar claims in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi's team claims they uncovered the manipulation after an extensive six-month investigation into voter lists in a specific parliamentary constituency. They assert that names of long-time voters were inexplicably removed, while new voters were suspiciously added without justification.

Siddaramaiah has expressed his support for Gandhi, confirming that the evidence would be presented during the protest, which will also involve educating the public on the importance of electoral integrity. D.K. Shivakumar echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the protest wasn’t for political optics but to safeguard the democratic process. The Congress hopes to raise awareness of these issues while calling on the Election Commission to address the alleged misconduct.

Despite these accusations, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra dismissed the claims, questioning the logic behind Congress's victory in the 2023 state assembly elections if the Election Commission was being manipulated. The controversy has put a spotlight on the state’s electoral practices, and the upcoming protest is set to become a focal point in the ongoing political debate surrounding the legitimacy of the 2024 Karnataka Lok Sabha elections.