Udupi – Women and Child Development Minister and Udupi District In-charge Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has accused the BJP of large-scale vote rigging, claiming it was the key reason behind Congress’s defeat in five assembly constituencies of Udupi district.
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony and 50th annual conference of the Udupi Block Youth Congress Committee at LIC Diamond Jubilee Hall, the minister stated that although Congress had secured 135 seats in the state assembly elections, the Lok Sabha polls brought a setback. She attributed this to manipulated voting practices, alleging that 85 lakh voter names have already been removed ahead of the Bihar elections. Hebbalkar further claimed that the Election Commission is indirectly aiding the BJP by withholding the list of deleted voters.
Highlighting the legacy of the Youth Congress, she said the party’s history is intertwined with the nation’s progress over the past five decades. While acknowledging the loss in Udupi district, she maintained that the setback is temporary and expressed confidence that the party would rebound with renewed vigor, “like a phoenix.”
She urged young party members to take ownership of their responsibilities, work actively at the grassroots level, and focus on earning public trust. “Do not fear criticism. Many youths are unaware of their own strength—channel it for the people,” she advised.
The event saw participation from senior Congress leaders including former minister Jayaprakash Hegde, district presidents Ashok Kumar Kodavoor and MA Ghafoor, along with other party functionaries.