Bengaluru, May 3 -- In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples through Karnataka's political landscape, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has branded the legal and administrative battle over the Sringeri assembly constituency a "disgrace to the nation" and an "organised crime" against democracy.

The controversy peaked on Sunday after a court-ordered recount of postal ballots concluded. Despite allegations of a "large-scale conspiracy" to overturn the mandate, the final tally resulted in an ironic twist: the sitting Congress MLA's victory margin actually grew.

The dispute traces back to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, where Congress candidate TD Rajegowda secured a razor-thin victory over the BJP's DN Jeevaraj. The initi...