- 16 minutes ago
A debate on television pitted Congress leader Raghu Doddi Reddy against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anand Gurumurthy over the Karnataka MLC poll results. Following the Bharatiya Janata Party and NDA victory in council elections conducted via paper ballots, the anchor questioned whether the outcome blunts the Congress party's ongoing allegations regarding Electronic Voting Machines. Raghu Doddi Reddy acknowledged the mandate, stating, 'We will stick to our demand that we will continue future elections will be held only by using the ballot papers.' He argued that the seats lost were traditional BJP strongholds and that a limited electorate cannot reflect the entire state. Anand Gurumurthy hit back, asserting that educated graduate and teacher constituencies rejected the Congress government's policies and fiscal management. He accused the opposition of attacking constitutional bodies like the Election Commission of India without presenting evidence, maintaining that the electorate has validated NDA development policies.
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00:00Let's also introduce for you our guests on this broadcast from the Congress.
00:04We've got Raghu Doderi and also Anand Gurumurthy of the BJP.
00:09Mr. Raghu Doderi, I'd like to begin with you, sir.
00:12How many times have we seen Congress leaders say we want ballot papers because EVMs are unfair.
00:18They're compromised. They're hacked.
00:20Ballot paper voting has happened and despite that the Congress has lost.
00:27Just by one election, why are we coming to the conclusion that the BJP is doing justice to the people
00:32of the country?
00:33So we have lost, we accept the mandate, but it does not mean that.
00:38So this election, just because of ballot papers, Karnat Congress has lost or won.
00:43No, sir, let me explain it to you.
00:46Let me explain it to you.
00:46Since you feel that we're reaching far-reaching consequences with just one election,
00:50the demand has always been that there must be ballot paper voting because you believe that other elections you've lost
00:55as a result of EVMs, as a result of vote-shuri?
01:00Absolutely. That is what we have complained about.
01:02So when one election you've lost, you take that decision,
01:04then another election you lose based on ballot paper, they will be the same assumption.
01:08Let us understand the statistics about these four elections.
01:12We have never won these four elections.
01:13Especially the Bangalore, we have never won except once Mr. Putana has joined Congress,
01:17one during our previous by-elections, only the by-elections he has won.
01:22So in Bangalore, Congress has never won for last four or five elections.
01:25So which means it's a Bangalore, BJP-dominated constituency.
01:29So I think they have won it and they have retained it.
01:31That does not mean that just because of the ballot papers, BJP has won or Congress has lost.
01:36So we have been, we are still stick to our conditions, our demand that the future elections
01:40also should be held by using the ballot papers, not on a EVM.
01:44So these elections were fair?
01:47There was no vote-shory, there was no, you know, foul play.
01:51This is very small, you know, one small fraternity of the entire 7 crore population in Karnataka.
01:58It is just about 2 lakh voters across all the four, you know, MLC elections.
02:03The total Karnataka's voters is for, you know, 5.5 crore voters.
02:07This is very, very, very small, marginal and very trivial voters.
02:11Sure, sir.
02:12No, but I'm asking you, Mr. Doderi, is this an election that you deem fair or not, small or not?
02:18You know, every election matters irrespective.
02:20It's not like if it's a bigger election, that matters more than this.
02:23This is also a mandate that's come.
02:27So is this, has this been a fair election?
02:32Yeah, we'll accept it.
02:33It's a fair election, yes.
02:35But just because we took 2 lakh, just 2 lakh, 2 lakh voters, we can't judge the entire state's election.
02:42So I'm just questioning the BJP that why BJP has lost out of the 19, Congress has won 19 in
02:48the last 3 years.
02:49BJP has just won only 9 and JDS won only 4.
02:52And all the by-elections held in the last 3.5 years, Congress has won all the elections, including 2
02:58ex-CM's sons have lost.
03:00So which clearly shows that the people of Karnataka have trusted Congress and trust, have believed in Congress's ideology and
03:08supported us.
03:09So my only question is, yes, this is one fraction of our result which has come.
03:13We accept the mandate and we will introspect our results, why we have lost this, especially the Bangalore MHC constituency,
03:19the teachers' constituency, we have lost it.
03:21But we'll accept the defeat and we will introspect the result.
03:25Mr. Anand Gurumurthy, your opening comments.
03:27The Congress saying this was a fair election because it was on ballot paper.
03:30First of all, I want to congratulate the India candidates from the Northwest.
03:34It is Sakunurthy from Northeast, Shashir Namorshi-ji and then from Southeast, Suresh-ji and Southwest, Ranganan-ji.
03:42Now, these were our candidates.
03:44They have won.
03:46And, you know, Congress was always talking about ballot papers coming back to picture.
03:51Okay, the Election Commission once in a while does that through ballot papers.
03:55And now the Congress has been proven false.
03:58But they don't want to accept it.
03:59That's the different story.
04:00They'll give different reasons.
04:01Then there are two more things that I want to talk about.
04:04See, this election, whenever they say this is only a few votes and other things, now they are just reasonings,
04:09okay?
04:09These are graduate constituency and teacher constituency elections, which is very important.
04:14These are educated people who vote for it and they are seeing a problem with Congress policies.
04:20This is the clear message.
04:21Across the nation, there are a lot of people who are talking about the bad policies in Karnataka.
04:27Not just in Karnataka, across the nation.
04:29There are certain things that this government did to come to power.
04:33Mr. Sitramaya, Mr. D. Keshu Kumar and all the people then, in 2023, they were the masters of everything.
04:41They did a lot of kapla.
04:43They did a lot of promises to people.
04:45And they spoiled the entire physical nature of Karnataka and came to power.
04:48And after two, three years, without doing any development, they were, you know, talking about vote jury.
04:55And finally, you know, in Delhi, they did a lot of drama, which the people are punishing them.
05:00This is just the beginning and it will continue in a very big way.
05:04I hope they get their lessons and start, you know, moving in the positive direction for the state and the
05:10nation.
05:10Otherwise, people will keep punishing them.
05:12Let them take the punishment.
05:13It is good for them.
05:15But from our side, we are extremely happy with what results we have got.
05:22India has once again fortified that whatever development politics it is doing, it is good for the people and people
05:29are accepting it.
05:30Mr. Raghu Doderi, if you can hear me, I am not sure if you heard what Mr. Gurumurthi said.
05:35But what this has done and this particular election results, sir, what it has done is it will blunt the
05:41Congress's attacks constantly on vote jury and your demand for ballot paper.
05:45Because even when it is ballot paper, the argument will be that, look, the Congress is not able to deliver.
05:50The Prime Minister said it.
05:51He said that, you know, we have had finally ballot paper voting.
05:54Guess how many seats the Congress has won?
05:56That is a zero.
05:58Then why did the MLC seat held in, you know, Modi's constituency, then BJP lost it?
06:03Why SP has won it?
06:05No, that's retained by the SP, sir.
06:07That's once again, that's retained by the Samajwadi Party.
06:11Similarly, in Bangalore also, all the four constituencies held in Karnataka were retained by BJP.
06:16Earlier, you know, just before Putana joined Congress, it was, he was belong to BJP and he has won from
06:21BJP.
06:22So, in BJP, Bangalore, MLC constituency, Congress has never won.
06:26In the, especially in the urban area, we accept that BJP is little strong, especially because of the, you know,
06:31RSS stronghold in Bangalore.
06:33So, they have won it the last four or five elections.
06:35No, but Mr. Dodiri, my question to you is specifically on ballot paper and how your attack may be blunted
06:40now on this issue.
06:42The BJP use it as ammunition.
06:43The BJP will suggest that, look, here's evidence that irrespective of what form of voting there is, the Congress can't
06:50win.
06:51Absolutely, we'll stick to our, stick to our demand that we will continue future elections.
06:55We will be held only by using the ballot papers.
06:58We will never go back to our EVMs because it's agreed.
07:01So, election commission itself is, it's a match fixed.
07:04When election commission was appointed in 2023, that time itself, the match was fixed.
07:08And he helped BJP to win all Bihar elections, West Bengal elections, all other elections, including Maharashtra elections.
07:15We will never go back to that.
07:16My point to view is, if you are accepting Bangalore, why not accepting the Modi's constituency where Modi has passed?
07:23Okay, fine.
07:24Mr. Gurumurthy, okay, fair point, fair point.
07:26The Congress is saying that this is an election where it was BJP's election to win, that these were strongholds
07:33of the BJP.
07:34And so, it's not surprising that the Congress didn't manage to win any of the four.
07:39See, number one, okay, election come, election go.
07:43But institutions like the election commission, set up by the constitution of this country, should be respected.
07:49These people take the constitution book around and show it to everybody, saying that they are the defenders of the
07:55constitution.
07:55But in actuality, they are, you know, in principle, they are actually sabotaging the institutions of our country in a
08:01big way.
08:02In fact, this is not the way a Congress spokesperson should even speak about the institutions of this country.
08:07And whenever Mr. Rahul Gandhi speaks, he is also speaking in the same tone, tenor.
08:12He is just throwing allegations.
08:14Whenever any kind of proof is asked, neither before courts, nor before the press, nor anywhere, okay, he is able
08:20to give any proof.
08:21So, the people are punishing them continuously.
08:24They will start punishing them continuously from now on.
08:27Both Congress and its allies will be punished because of the lies being spoken by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress
08:34spokespersons.
08:35Now, if they don't learn their lessons, it is good.
08:37Let them do it.
08:38I am for it.
08:39Please, Mr. Rukhututuri, you continue, you know, talking bad about the institutions while the institutions are doing their duty.
08:47First thing.
08:48Second thing is, you are talking about ballot papers and, you know, whatever vote jury allegations you have regarding the
08:56VVPAT machines.
08:57The machines have been given to you for testing and you have not come up with anything, okay?
09:02You have always shown some, you know, paper on news channels and then, you know, told vote jury.
09:09But you have not proven anything.
09:10These elections are also proving that you are telling lies.
09:13In spite of it, if you don't learn the lessons, then people will show it, you know, in the future.
09:21Mr. Dodiri, your response?
09:24See, I have already told, I think my friend has not understood the reality or the constitutional values of our
09:29country.
09:30And especially the, you know, the independent institutions like election commission.
09:34So, when you have modified the act by, you know, the two modifications they have done in 2023.
09:40One was to, instead of the Chief Justice of India, they have selected one as one minister from a central
09:49minister, union minister.
09:50So, which means that match-fixing was done in 2023.
09:53After that, why did they modify that nobody, no agency or no individual can be able to fight against the
10:00election commission in the court of law?
10:03So, which clearly shows that it was the match-fixing.
10:05It is done.
10:06So, the election was held in 2023 with the ballot papers.
10:10Congress would have won more than 170 seats.
10:12And definitely in 2028, 100% Congress would win more than 150 seats in the next party.
10:18Even then, even then, even then, even then, even then, in Karnataka, okay, Mr. Gurumurthi, go ahead.
10:23In Karnataka, in 2023, elections were held under the same rules and Congress has won 150 seats.
10:29They are in, they formed the government and they are not able to run the government yesterday.
10:33Even D.K. Shukumar called, there is no money in the government.
10:35Okay, Mr. Raghu Dodiri, please, please, okay, please understand.
10:40You are falling back in line with the aspirations of the people.
10:44You are telling lies on TV.
10:46Your national president is telling lies on TV.
10:51Your LOPs are telling lies on TV.
10:53They are very frustrated and they are abusing BJP people, but that will not help.
10:57You must come out of this cocoon.
11:00You must come out of this cocoon and accept the fact that this nation, 140 crore people, are asking for
11:05development
11:06and that only BJP and NDA allies are delivering.
11:10You people are telling lies.
11:12Okay, okay, why don't you tell?
11:13You people are joining with anarchists.
11:15You people are causing trouble for the people of India.
11:18On November 1st, with what face you are going to, you know, have this thing in New Delhi, Mr. Dodiri.
11:25What face are you going to?
11:26You have lost an election on ballot paper.
11:28With what face you are going to have a rally in Delhi?
11:29Okay, let Mr. Dodiri respond.
11:30The traders are telling, the traders are telling...
11:32Mr. Dodiri, this is what I was addressing too, that the BJP now has ammunition.
11:36The banning business will not be there.
11:36To say, why would you demand banning paper?
11:38Because you don't have any excuses.
11:45Mr. Dodiri, can you hear me?
11:49Well, I think we're having a bit of a problem with his connection.
11:53I'm going to get in.
11:55Mr. Dodiri, just stay with us.
11:57We're going to reconnect with you.
11:58In the meanwhile, I want to play out for our viewers.
12:00I'll request both of our guests to stay with us.
12:02Mr. Gurumurthy, just hold on.
12:03I will play out for our viewers how we have seen Congress leaders constantly make a pitch
12:09for ballot paper voting.
12:11Saying, get back to ballot papers.
12:12Because we have no faith in EVMs.
12:14We have no trust in EVMs.
12:16These comments have constantly been made.
12:18Now, MLC elections have happened on ballot papers.
12:20The result is that the Congress, and I'm not just referring to Karnataka,
12:24but across the country, 28 seats, the Congress has won zero.
12:27Listen in to some of the reactions, past reactions of the Congress top ross.
12:34This is the one who has made 400 seats.
12:40This is the one who has made 400 seats.
12:42This is the one who has made 400 seats.
12:44Without match fixing, without social media and press,
12:52this is the one who has made 180 seats.
13:24is not going to happen.
13:52mischews are
13:54So they know themselves that they will never win.
14:24And whatever we have been, our leaders are also complaining, we still stick to our complaints
14:28that EVMs were rigged and the entire election process was rigged and that is the reason
14:33we have been demanding for…
14:36Please give one proof.
14:37You are not giving one proof.
14:38Neither you are leaders nor you are giving one proof.
14:40You cannot just shout like this on TV, televisions and say that everything is rigged.
14:45We are not running a bananary public here.
14:48We both represent the same country.
14:50People watch this internationally also.
14:52Please give one proof.
14:54Mr. Doderi.
14:59Through EVM and the Election Commission, the match fixing was done by the Election Commission
15:04because of the Election Commission.
15:05It's not the BJP who has won the states to win the states.
15:10It was the Election Commission which helped them to win.
15:12See, the SAR process is happening almost six months in Karnataka.
15:17Why was it restricted only one month in Bihar?
15:19Why two months in West Bengal?
15:21Which clearly shows that people were not given enough time and more than 27 lakh people have filed their petitions
15:27about their rights in West Bengal.
15:29What happened to that?
15:30So, which clearly shows that the Election Commission was completely in favor of, you know, the BJP and the match
15:35fixing was done in support of the Election Commission.
15:38We are still stick to it and we will demand for the ballot papers in the future elections.
15:43So, you're saying stick to the demand on ballot paper.
15:46Then to you, Mr. Doderi, what explains what's happened in this particular MLC poll result?
15:51Is it anti-incumbency?
15:53Is it that you just didn't stand a chance because these are BJP strongholds?
15:56What is it?
15:57Well, if you're accepting, then you should also accept the fact that Modi has lost in Uttar Pradesh, you know,
16:04in the Varanasi.
16:05No, I'm asking you.
16:07I've conceded on that point.
16:09Mr. Doderi, you're right.
16:10You're right on Varanasi that the SPs retained their particular seat.
16:13That's the point on introspection that the BJP must look into.
16:16I'm asking you the question as Congress spokesperson.
16:19That is the reason I've told you how, you know, if the BJP is accepting the fact that Modi has
16:25lost miserably in Varanasi,
16:27we will also accept the fact that we have lost in Bangalore and across Karnataka for MLC election.
16:32But I wanted to reiterate again that the fact is that we have, you know, none of these four MLC
16:37election constituencies belong to Congress.
16:40It was earlier won by BJP.
16:42They have retained except Bangalore.
16:43Earlier it was the BJP, but the BJP candidate or MLC has joined Congress and won once.
16:49Mr. Putnam, I would like…
16:52Mr. Gurumurthy, final comment.
16:54Yeah, see, if Rahul Gandhi had played cricket, now after getting duck out, he would have told the umpire is
17:00rigged,
17:01the entire BCCI is rigged, the other players are rigged.
17:04I am the only guy who can score a hundred.
17:06No, sir, they're saying this is a clean election.
17:09No, this is the kind of…
17:11The BJP may have won, but the Congress is saying this was a clean election.
17:14So, they're saying no conspiracy here.
17:15No, no, no, wait a second.
17:16Wait a second.
17:17They change their statements every day, okay?
17:20And they, you know, tell a lot of lies on TV.
17:23They don't…
17:23They can't produce any proof.
17:25So, I don't think there's any point in believing any congressman anymore.
17:29They are a bunch of lies.
17:31They should not, you know…
17:33People must defeat them in every election so that, you know, they tell more lies and get defeated.
17:38And, you know, completely they get a zero in the entire country.
17:42Okay, I'm going to leave it at that.
17:43I apologize, Mr. Doderi's signal has been very bad through the entire broadcast.
17:47But I'm leaving it at that.
17:48Thank you very much, Mr. Doderi and Mr. Gurumurthy for joining us on this broadcast.
17:53We'll leave it to you, the viewer, to decide what you think of these MLC poll results.