Karnataka SIR: DK Shivakumar alleges bid to delete 45 lakh voters through Form 7
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday alleged a coordinated attempt to remove large numbers of voters from the electoral rolls through multiple Form 7 applications filed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accused BJP and JD(S) workers of being involved in the alleged exercise and claimed that minorities, Dalits and Scheduled Tribe voters were being targeted. He called the SIR process a “big fraud” and demanded an investigation, including a criminal probe, into the alleged misuse of Form 7.
Shivakumar claimed that applications had been submitted seeking deletion of around 45 lakh voters and alleged that 14,000 such applications were filed in Vijayapura alone. He also alleged that Form 7 applications were submitted in bulk on September 22, 23 and 24, including in constituencies such as Bhalki and Mudigere.
He said he would remain at the office of Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar until an inquiry was ordered and urged the Election Commission to register FIRs wherever electoral offences were found. He also asked voters, legislators and booth-level representatives to provide details of suspicious Form 7 applications to his office.
The allegations come amid wider concerns over Karnataka’s SIR process. Data released by the state election authorities recently showed a discrepancy of about 6,000 between the number of Form 7 deletion applications reflected in different datasets, with officials saying the figures required verification.
The Election Commission’s rules do not allow a voter’s name to be removed merely because a Form 7 application has been submitted. The affected voter must be notified and given an opportunity to be heard before deletion.
Fresh update: Shivakumar has sought a constituency-wise account of Form 7 objections, including bulk applications and those allegedly filed without required particulars. He has also appealed to voters and booth-level representatives to immediately report suspicious deletion applications.
with inputs from PTI
