BENGALURU: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi arrived at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on Friday to take part in the protest at Freedom Park over the alleged election fraud.
Karnataka State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, welcomed him at the airport. Party's national President Mallikarjun Kharge also arrived with Rahul Gandhi.
In light of the protest, tight security arrangements have been made around the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office is located approximately 80 feet from Freedom Park, the venue of the protest.
The police department, taking no chances with the large gathering and the significance of the protest, has deployed additional forces both at the premises and in front of the State Election Commission office to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.
The Chief Electoral Officer has granted him an appointment between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sources said the Congress delegation, comprising national and state leaders -- possibly with or without Rahul Gandhi -- is expected to meet the officer between 1.30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
State Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna stated, "Rahul Gandhi has made statements backed by documents. He is speaking with authority, and we must endorse his statements -- there is no doubt about it. The BJP is well aware of the malpractices. The RSS, the frontal organisation of the BJP, is manipulating everything."