Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a large-scale criminal scheme by misusing Form 7 to remove eligible voters from electoral rolls during the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR). His allegations emerge amid a controversy that has stirred protests and political tension throughout Karnataka.
## Form 7 Misuse: What Shivakumar Alleges
Shivakumar claims that BJP operatives have exploited Form 7, which allows individuals to lodge objections against a voter’s inclusion or request deletion from the rolls. According to him, “The misuse of Form 7 by BJP workers has been exposed.” He reports conducting detailed investigations using his political, personal, and official teams that support these concerns.
He further asserts that this misuse disproportionately affects minorities, backward castes, and marginalized communities—groups that traditionally support the Congress party. Shivakumar alleges that mass quantities of printed forms have been distributed to political volunteers, many of whom reportedly signed between 100 and 300 forms without understanding their contents or knowing the voters named in them. Some forms allegedly concern voters from constituencies different from those of the signatories.
Citing electoral data, he claims that the BJP has even managed to obtain voters’ Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, which are printed on many objection forms. “A conspiracy was hatched to delete 10,000 to 20,000 votes across all 224 constituencies,” he alleged.
## Protests, Stat Counts, and Government Reaction
Shivakumar is leading protests against what he describes as systematic irregularities in Karnataka’s SIR process. During these protests, he demanded an inquiry and FIRs into alleged bulk submissions of Form 7. The Election Commission’s draft rolls reveal that roughly 1.07 crore voter names have been removed, lowering Karnataka’s registered electorate to approximately 4.46 crore.
Events escalated when Shivakumar paused a Cabinet meeting and staged a sit-in at Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar’s office. The protest, which lasted about five hours, concluded after Anbukkumar directed investigations into all applications suspected of false information.
In a memorandum, Shivakumar highlighted deletion applications of concern: 6,259 from Mudigere, around 3,000 from Belagavi North, and 2,285 from Bhalki. He also stated that details like names and EPICs were often pre-printed, with objectors’ information added later—raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the objection process.
## The Debate Over Voters’ Rights
Shivakumar has emphasized that the right to vote is fundamental—comparable to the right to live. In some instances, voters in Vijayapura and Belagavi were reportedly declared deceased despite being alive, a matter he described as deeply troubling. He called for electoral rolls to be cross-checked line by line against earlier lists and stressed that completing such a verification exercise within a month is unrealistic.
He also urged election officials to ensure names are removed only after thorough inquiry and definitive documentation. As Chief Minister, he reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding every citizen’s right to vote.
## Demands and Electoral Commission’s Response
Shivakumar is calling for constituency-wise and booth-wise investigations into who submitted complaint forms and how voter identification data was accessed. He advocates for rigorous scrutiny of the entire SIR process.
The Election Commission of India has instructed that deletions proceed only after proper verification. Following Shivakumar’s protests, Chief Electoral Officer Anbukkumar assured that action will be taken against individuals who knowingly submitted false electoral forms.
Shivakumar has expressed willingness for the BJP to approach the Election Commission, stating, “The law will take its course.” Meanwhile, in the face of mounting pressure, the state government is assisting voters in obtaining necessary documents to secure their registration. He also plans to update his Cabinet and party members on the EC’s directive to avoid arbitrary deletions.
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