Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday strongly backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of large-scale voter deletions, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of blocking the state’s probe into the matter.

Shivakumar said, “What Rahul Gandhi has said is a fact. There is nothing wrong with it. He has said the truth.”

He revealed that fraudsters had tried to delete thousands of voters’ names by submitting fake telephone numbers. “They wanted to delete a very large number of votes. Ultimately, we found it out,” he said, adding that the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been tasked with probing the case.

But Shivakumar alleged the EC was refusing to share vital information. “The CID had requested the ECI, which is not cooperating,” he charged, warning that similar attempts were noticed in KR Puram as well. “Until the EC supports the investigation, the CID cannot proceed. What Rahul Gandhi has said is true. We have to take some drastic action. My CM also knows,” he added.

On another front, Shivakumar addressed Bengaluru’s worsening road infrastructure after several IT companies, including BlackBuck, raised red flags over commute times and pothole-ridden stretches on Outer Ring Road (ORR).

“We are there to solve the problem. Tweeting and making big news will not solve the problem. I’ve fixed time and devised a plan to solve all problems relating to roads,” Shivakumar said, adding that a committee with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been formed to tackle the issue.

The remarks followed a viral post by BlackBuck Co-Founder & CEO Rajesh Yabaji, who announced the company’s decision to shift out of Bellandur on ORR after nine years. Yabaji cited unbearable traffic congestion, rising dust pollution, and commuting times crossing 1.5 hours one way. “Didn’t see any of this changing in the next 5 years,” he wrote on X.