My votes were bought off; will seek recounting in Munugode: KA Paul

MUNUGODE: Prajashanti Party founder and Munugode by-election candidate KA Paul, who has obtained only 213 votes at the end of six rounds, made a sensational claim on Sunday that the votes destined for him were bought off by his rivals. He said it was done as part of a targetted campaign against him. The mercurial leader also vowed to press with the Election Commission for a recounting of votes.

KA Paul, who visited the counting centre, questioned the EC officials about their "failure to take action against BJP, TRS and Congress leaders accused of distributing money to voters." He also expressed concern about the placement of 200 empty EVMs near the godown.

He claimed that voters franchised their votes to his party and that the other party leaders tampered with the EVMs. He claimed that the leaders in the country and state had no morals and that the elections were a sham. KA Paul received 34 votes in the first round.

KA Paul claimed on Friday that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asked him to contest as an independent candidate in the Munugode by-election.

He even claimed that, if there was no EVM tampering, he would win with a 50,000-vote majority, and that if he won, he would provide free education and free medical care to all.

KA Paul, who tried every trick in the book to win over the voters, was seen sewing chappals and dancing on several occasions during his election campaigning in Munugode. He even promised to "transform Munugode into another United States" if he won the constituency.