Full Breakdown
Karnataka’s Form-7 Controversy: Alleged Voter-Deletion Scheme Sparks Political Standoff
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 1 2026, Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar staged a five-hour sit-in outside Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukkumar’s office in Bengaluru, demanding a First Information Report (FIR) and a criminal probe into bulk Form-7 applications he said were being used to delete voters—especially from minority, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities—during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered a probe and Karnataka police filed three FIRs that day.
Background & Context
Form 7 allows any elector to object to inclusion or request deletion from the roll. The SIR, a nationwide voter-list clean-up, runs annually; Karnataka’s draft roll generated over 45 lakh notices, of which 41.63 lakh had been delivered by September 26 2026. Allegations emerged that pre-printed Form-7s containing EPIC numbers and addresses were being circulated to party workers, enabling mass deletions without genuine verification.
Official Statements & Responses
- Shivakumar said “pre-printed” forms were being handed to BJP and JD(S) workers, constituting a “criminal conspiracy” to disenfranchise voters and urged the ECI to conduct a booth-wise audit.
- Anbukkumar directed Electoral Registration Officers to act against applicants who knowingly make false statements in Forms 6-8 and to follow an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
- BJP leaders, including Vijayendra and former chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa, rejected the allegations, insisting filing Form 7 is a legal right and warning of a statewide agitation if police pursue cases.
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the protest “extremely regrettable,” arguing the chief minister should focus on drought relief rather than “political drama” at the CEO’s office.
Criticism & Opposition
Yediyurappa warned, “Law and order has deteriorated across the state… If this continues, we will launch a statewide agitation.” Vijayendra said, “We will not be afraid even if 1,000 FIRs are filed against us; we will fight the cases in court.” Opposition leader R. Ashoka stressed, “Submitting Form 7 is not a crime. It is the Election Commission, not the police station, that has to determine the truth and validity of a voter.”
On-the-Ground Reports
Complainants—including Booth Level Agent Meerasab Sanadi (Belagavi) and social worker Syed Hasratulla (Mysuru)—reported BJP workers presenting pre-filled forms and pressuring Booth Level Officers to accept them. FIRs allege forged signatures, false relocation claims, and coordinated attempts to delete Muslim voters.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Scale of alleged deletions: Shivakumar cites “45-50 lakh” affected voters; BJP sources limit the figure to ? 25,000 Form-7 submissions. No independent audit has verified either number.
- Legal basis of FIRs: Police invoked the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita rather than the Representation of the People Act, raising procedural questions.
- Source of pre-printed forms: Shivakumar alleged an agency handling voter data supplied the forms to BJP cadres; the agency’s identity remains unconfirmed.
What’s Next
The ECI has pledged a “thorough inquiry” and will examine booth-wise Form-7 filings before the final rolls are published on October 27 2026. The state government says it will cooperate with any investigation and has asked the CEO to submit a detailed report. BJP leaders continue to warn of a statewide agitation should police proceed with prosecutions.