Karnataka electoral roll dispute intensifies over voter deletion allegations

Political tensions are rising in Karnataka over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused the BJP of a “criminal conspiracy” to delete eligible voters, specifically targeting minorities, backward castes, and the poor through the misuse of Form 7 applications.

Shivakumar reported that mass applications for voter deletion were being filed, sometimes with pre-printed details, and has called for the Election Commission to investigate. He noted that the draft rolls show 1.07 crore names removed, reducing the state’s registered electorate to 4.46 crore. The Chief Minister stated that the state government is awaiting action from the Election Commission, which is already looking into the matter.

Conversely, BJP MLC C T Ravi has countered these claims, alleging that Hindu voters are being disproportionately removed from the rolls. Ravi claimed that in the Chikkamagaluru constituency, approximately 32,000 of the 37,000 removed names belonged to Hindu voters, though he did not provide documentary evidence to support these figures.