KOLAR: Malur MLA KY Nanjegowda on Wednesday said if recounting of votes in his Assembly constituency, as ordered by the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, finds KS Manjunath Gowda as the winner, he will quit politics.
Nanjegowda told the media that he was the one who brought Manjunath Gowda from Hoskote and made him win from the Malur constituency. But now, he wants to become the MLA by challenging the election, Nanjegowda said. “If there is recounting of votes or fresh election, he will be defeated again,” he added. Nanjegowda said he will approach the Supreme Court and will appeal against the entire high court order.
On Manjunath Gowda’s allegations of vote theft in Malur, he said, “The BJP government was in power in the state when the elections were held. All the officials and police were present, and he too was watching television at his residence. He entered the counting centre only towards the end.”
The high court has granted a four-week stay for the execution of its order, allowing Nanjegowda to approach the Supreme Court. He said, “Why should I steal the video? It is the responsibility of election officials to collect the footage and safeguard it. I have nothing to do with it.”
Nanjegowda said CM Siddaramaiah spoke to him, and the CM’s programme scheduled for October 31 in the constituency will be held as per schedule.