Bengaluru: Congress general secretary and the party’s Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala Thursday accused state Chief Minister BS Bommai of allowing a private entity to steal voter’s data.

While addressing media persons, Surjewala said, “Shocking exposé reveals that those in citadels of power, including Karnataka CM, are responsible for theft of voter data, fraud and impersonation. CM Bommai, his officials, government officers, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) people and State Election authority are partners in crime in trampling democracy.”

The Congress leader mentioned that Bharatiya Janaa Party (BJP) leader Bommai is the Ministers in charge of BBMP zones, which entitles him to take significant decisions within the organisation. Surjewala further alleged that Bommai misused his powers to permit a private firm Chilume Edu Institute to collect personal details of voters through surveys.

He said after the company got the permission, its employees impersonated as the booth-level officers to carry out free-of-cost surveys. After gaining the information, it was uploaded on Digital Sameeksha owned by a private firm “for use by MPs/MLAs/political parties” instead of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Leveling these charges, Surjewala demanded a legal action against the Karnataka CM as well as his resignation from the post.

“They do so in cahoots with Minister incharge – CM, BBMP controlled by BJP and election authority,” said the Congress leader.