Story perspectives

Karnataka CM, Ministers Protest Over Bulk Form-7 FIRs

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 4:06 AM UTC · How we work

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Form-7 Voter Deletion

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers staged a sit-in protest outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru on 1 October 2026.
The protest said pre-printed Form-7s were used to delete Muslim, Dalit, tribal and poor voters, accusing BJP agents of systematic disenfranchisement.
Police filed three FIRs—two in Belagavi, one in Bhalki—over the bulk Form-7 allegations.
M. Lakshmana displayed Form-7s with Muslim names, blaming BJP’s H.K. Dinesh for deleting 243 voters.

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Protest Political Farce

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and six ministers protested outside Bengaluru’s Chief Electoral Officer office on October 1, 2026, demanding an FIR on bulk Form-7 filings.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra called the protest a political farce meant to distract from drought and farmer concerns.
Shivakumar claimed pre-printed Form-7s were given to BJP and JD(S) workers to erase voters.

History

Historical Context

In 2008 the Election Commission of India uncovered 1,200 pre-printed Form-7 sheets that deleted Muslim and Dalit voters in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi, prompting BJP FIRs. On October 1 2026 Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers staged a sit-in protesting alleged bulk removal of Muslim names ahead of the 2027 polls. The case fuels calls for biometric verification reforms linked to the 2025-2026 Special Intensive Revision.

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Form-7 Voter Deletion

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and ministers staged a sit-in protest outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru on 1 October 2026.
The protest said pre-printed Form-7s were used to delete Muslim, Dalit, tribal and poor voters, accusing BJP agents of systematic disenfranchisement.
Police filed three FIRs—two in Belagavi, one in Bhalki—over the bulk Form-7 allegations.
M. Lakshmana displayed Form-7s with Muslim names, blaming BJP’s H.K. Dinesh for deleting 243 voters.

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