Karnataka CM protests outside CEO office over SIR

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday staged a sit-in outside CEO V Anbukkumar’s office  demanding an FIR over “electoral fraud” during the ongoing SIR and ended the 5-hour protest following a direction from the CEO for action regarding Form-7, a contentious issue the CM had flagged with him.

Shivakumar even put a Cabinet meet on hold to stage the demonstration and was joined by his Cabinet colleagues and ruling Congress MLAs.

The senior Congress leader yielded after Anbukkumar directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found to have knowingly made false statements or declarations in electoral forms, amid allegations of bulk filing of Form-7 applications to delete names of eligible voters.

Shivakumar also highlighted the EC assurance of action regarding Form-7.

Form-7 is a voter application form for objection for proposed inclusion/ deletion of name in the existing electoral roll.

The CM held a meeting with Anbukkumar for about two-and-a-half hours before announcing the sit-in. He said he would not leave the place until an inquiry was ordered and an FIR registered. 

He said he would remain outside the CEO’s office until he was satisfied that voters were being protected amid allegations of misuse of Form 7 during the SIR.

Asked how long he would remain at the election office, Shivakumar earlier said, “I will remain here until I get the satisfaction that, under the law, I can protect the people through our fight.”
Asked about the poll panel’s response, he said, “You should ask them that.”