Full Breakdown
Controversy Over Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Bulk Form-7 Objections and Calls to Halt the SIR Process
In late September 2024, the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka triggered a wave of objections. More than 4,000 Form-7 applications—used to request deletion of voters—were filed across multiple constituencies, many targeting Muslim voters. Actor-activist Prakash Raj and senior Congress leaders demanded the immediate scrapping of the SIR and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Background & Context
(ASDDO) entries from voter lists. In Karnataka, the process has been criticised for its speed and centralised control, with allegations that it disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities. Prior to the surge on September 22, Form-7 objections were typically limited to two or three per polling station and usually submitted by electors seeking deletion of their own names.
Official Statements & Responses
- Election Commission: All orders issued during the SIR have full legal sanction and internal dissent is a normal part of institutional deliberation.
- Bidar officials: Many Form-7 applications were filed offline and may not yet be digitised; they pledged to scrutinise bulk objections before any deletion.
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar: Called for the SIR to be scrapped, warning that genuine voters—especially from poor sections—could be excluded.
- Congress leadership: State President B K Hariprasad, former Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and Veerappa Moily, and AICC Secretary Gopinath Palaniyappan protested at Freedom Park on September 26, demanding Kumar’s resignation and alleging unilateral decisions that led to voter deletions.
- Prakash Raj: Demanded that all ECI decisions since 2023 be reviewed by the Supreme Court and that the SIR be halted, describing the process as “illegal” and “unconstitutional.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Prakash Raj’s movement: Framed the opposition as a “freedom movement” driven by Gen Z, alleging the SIR is being used to delete voters unlikely to support the BJP.
- Congress protest: Party leaders called the CEC’s actions “against democracy and the Constitution,” citing an Indian Express investigation that documented at least 14 objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to unilateral decisions.
- Local observers: The pattern of bulk Form-7 filings—often by a handful of individuals targeting voters in constituencies represented by both Congress and BJP—has been described as “questionable” by The Hindu.
On-the-Ground Reports
Physical copies of some Form-7 applications showed the objector’s details handwritten while the names of voters slated for deletion were pre-printed. In one case, the name “Vishnuvardhan Kote” appeared as the filer, but the individual identified himself as “Suresh” when contacted, suggesting possible misrepresentation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Handwritten vs. printed details: The Hindu reported discrepancies between the handwritten objector information and pre-printed voter names, while officials in Bidar suggested offline filings may not yet be reflected in the digital Form-10 data.
- Scope of deletions: Prakash Raj cited nationwide ASDDO figures of over 13 crore voters, whereas the Election Commission has not provided an official total, leaving the exact scale unverified.
What’s Next
- The fact-finding team led by Prakash Raj plans to submit its report on the 100 examined booths by September 30.
- Opposition MPs have been urged to move an impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar during the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
- Requests have been made for the Supreme Court to obtain all ECI records, decisions, and communications dating from 2023 onward.