Bengaluru: An NDA delegation led by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy and Leaders of Opposition R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Tuesday expressed serious concern and disapproval over what it termed the undue influence exerted by the Karnataka government on the constitutional process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The delegation, comprising BJP and JD(S) MLAs and MPs, met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at the Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention to safeguard the interests of individuals who filed objections through Form-7 applications.
The NDA leaders alleged that the Chief Electoral Office appeared to have succumbed to pressure from the state government and urged the Governor to issue directions to ensure that false and unwarranted FIRs and criminal cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, were not registered against individuals, including BJP workers, in connection with the SIR exercise.
The memorandum stated that the SIR process had been progressing smoothly and in a structured manner and was currently at the stage of issuing notices and disposing of claims and objections. It said the exercise was aimed at ensuring accurate, inclusive and legally valid electoral rolls and fulfilling the constitutional promise of universal adult franchise.
The NDA delegation said the SIR was necessary to prevent and curb the inclusion of ineligible persons in electoral rolls on account of what it termed illegal influx, and to safeguard the integrity of voter rolls and ensure free and fair elections.
It further stated that the SIR exercise in Karnataka was at an advanced stage of the notice phase and disposal of claims and objections.
Referring to Rule 13(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the memorandum said every objection to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll had to be filed in Form-7 and could be submitted by a person whose name was already included in the electoral roll.
The NDA leaders contended that filing objections through Form-7 was a legitimate constitutional right, subject to scrutiny by election officials and the appellate process provided under law.
They also argued that there was no bar on filing Form-7 objections in bulk. Referring to an Election Commission of India communication dated January 16, 2026, and the Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, they said applications could be submitted in bulk for identifying corrections in draft electoral rolls.
The memorandum claimed that there were no restrictions on the number of Form-7 applications that could be submitted to Electoral Registration Officers or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and that all objections were required to be cross-verified by election officials. It also stated that Booth Level Agents could file multiple Form-7 applications.
“Hence, no illegality is committed with submitting Form-7,” the delegation stated.
The NDA leaders also criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers for allegedly holding a protest within the premises of the Election Commission despite prohibitory orders. They alleged that the protest exerted undue influence on the functioning of the Chief Electoral Office.
According to the memorandum, such actions appeared to have resulted in the issuance of a circular proposing action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act.
The delegation said the circular had caused apprehension among people who had submitted Form-7 applications, as it appeared to legitimise the use of police machinery and interference in the SIR process.
It further alleged that individuals were now apprehensive about the registration of criminal cases under the BNS, 2023, citing FIRs registered in various districts, including Belagavi, Bidar, Ballari and Mysuru.
The NDA delegation urged Governor Gehlot to issue appropriate directions to the Karnataka government to safeguard the interests of individuals who had filed objections through Form-7.
It also sought directions to ensure that “false, unwarranted FIRs” and criminal cases under the BNS, 2023, were not registered against individuals, including BJP workers, in connection with the SIR exercise.
The delegation said such intervention was necessary in the interest of justice and to maintain the purity of elections.
(IANS)
