Karnataka SIR electoral roll revision faces political criticism

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Karnataka’s electoral rolls is "meaningless" and urged the process be scrapped, announcing a meeting with the Election Commission in Delhi.

Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre described the SIR as “a blot on democracy and the Constitution,” alleging it aims to strip thousands of eligible voters of their rights.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Karnataka state government of direct interference in the Ramanagara district’s SIR, demanding an immediate impartial investigation and calling the exercise a systematic conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls.

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar postponed the state Assembly session to August, citing the ongoing SIR and stating that the session will be scheduled after the draft rolls are published. The state cabinet has asked the Election Commission to conduct an independent review of the SIR’s legal basis, criteria, and software systems.