Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s startling allegation that 80 people were registered as voters at a tiny 120 sq ft room in Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura and had been allowed to cast their ballots in the recent Lok Sabha election has been firmly rejected by the man who owns the property. Jayaram Reddy, the owner, told NDTV that Gandhi was “confused” and insisted his loyalties remain with the Congress, not the BJP as the MP had claimed.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Reddy explained that the cramped room has long been home to a steady flow of migrant labourers, most of whom stay only for six months to a year. During that time, he said, they often obtain voter ID cards using the rental agreement for the property. The problem, according to him, is that these IDs remain linked to his address even after the tenants move elsewhere.
Reddy went on to claim that the process is facilitated by middlemen or “agents” who can arrange voter IDs and other identity papers for almost anyone willing to pay, regardless of nationality.
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“If a Pakistani came he (the ‘agent’) would have made him a voter ID card… if an Indian came he would have made a voter ID card. There are so many people around… from Bangladesh also.”
However, he maintained that in his view, most of these migrant workers do not use the cards to actually vote. “They don’t use it for voting… they don’t stay here permanently, no? They stay for six months or a year, then they shift. They usually use it as a proof of address.”
Bengaluru Room Owner Admits BJP Link, Later Claims Congress Loyalty
Earlier in the day, India Today carried out a ground reality check on Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of voter manipulation in the Bengaluru Central constituency.
The property in question, measuring barely 10–15 sq ft, which is currently occupied by Dipankar, a food delivery worker from West Bengal moved in just a month ago. He told India Today that he has no voter registration in Bengaluru and did not recognise any of the names on the electoral roll linked to that address.
Dipankar claimed the house belongs to Jayaram Reddy, whom he described as having BJP links. When contacted, Reddy initially admitted to a BJP connection but clarified that he is only a BJP voter, not an active party worker. He said multiple tenants had stayed there over the years and obtained voter IDs using the address, though most had moved out. According to him, some return during elections to cast their ballots.
Later, in an interview with NDTV, Reddy insisted he is a Congress supporter. However, Dipankar maintained in his India Today interview that Reddy has BJP affiliations.