Bengaluru SIR row : GBA says no notice issued to Bharat Ratna awardee C N R Rao

A discrepancy in the name of Bharat Ratna awardee Prof C N R Rao was found during the ongoing revision of electoral rolls in Bengaluru, leading to reports that election authorities had issued him a notice. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Wednesday clarified that no such notice was issued.

GBA Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao, who is also the District Election Officer of Bengaluru Urban, said Rao’s name was found to be different in the old and current electoral rolls. Instead of issuing a notice, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) recommended including his name in the final electoral roll.

“No notice has been issued to the Hon’ble Bharat Ratna (awardee) Prof C N (R) Rao in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency,” the GBA said in a statement quoting Rao.

The authority said Enumeration Forms were personally delivered to Rao and his family members at their residence by the State SVEEP Nodal Officer along with the Commissioner of Bengaluru West City Corporation. The required information was also filled in.

According to the GBA, Rao was enrolled as a voter in Part No. 129, Serial No. 431 of the 76-Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency in the 2002 electoral roll. His name was recorded as “Rama” at the time.

He is currently registered as a voter in Part No. 59, Serial No. 187 of the 157-Malleshwaram Assembly Constituency under the name “Prof CN Rao M”. His name has also been included in the draft electoral roll, the GBA said.

The GBA said the name discrepancy was noticed during the SIR process. The BLO recommended including Rao’s name in the final electoral roll without issuing any notice.