Full Breakdown
Bulk Form-7 Submissions Spark Electoral-Roll Controversy in Telangana and Karnataka
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Core Event
On October 1 2026, pre-printed Form 7 applications appeared in Hyderabad’s Musheerabad constituency, seeking deletion of 31 electors—including a Congress booth-level agent and his family. Similar batches of 15 pre-filled forms were later reported in Goshamahal, and additional forms surfaced in Bahadurpura. The forms listed EPIC numbers but omitted the applicants’ names. Booth-level officers (BLOs) in the affected polling stations refused to accept the bulk submissions, citing lack of instruction and the illegality of filing more than ten claims per instance.
Background & Context
Form 7 is the statutory instrument voters use to object to inclusion on the electoral roll or request deletion on grounds such as death, relocation, or duplicate entries. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1955, a booth-level agent may file up to 30 deletion claims, but no more than ten per individual instance. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, underway in Telangana and Karnataka, is a nationwide exercise to cleanse voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
Data & Statistics
- Musheerabad: 31 deletion claims in a single batch.
- Goshamahal: 15 pre-printed forms rejected by the BLO.
- Telangana’s SIR filing window closes on October 7 2026.
- Karnataka officials cited thousands of Form 7 applications across several constituencies, including 6,259 in Mudigere and 3,000 in Belagavi North.
Official Statements & Responses
The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed electoral registration officers to act against any applicant who knowingly makes false statements in Forms 6, 6A, 7 or 8, emphasizing that sanctions must follow an inquiry under Rule 20 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, addressing a protest outside the ECI office, demanded a time-bound probe and urged officials to act against “pre-filled” Form 7 applications he said targeted minority voters.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Nawaz, brother of Shareef, said a deputy commissioner visited his home on September 30 2026 and informed the family of a Form 7 objection they had never seen.
- Mohammad Baba Sharfuddin, a Congress BLA, confirmed that his own name and those of his family appeared among the deletion requests, despite none meeting the statutory criteria for removal.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Owaisi alleges BJP BLAs filed the bulk forms to delete Muslim voters; the BJP asserts no such submissions were made by its agents.
- Reported numbers vary: 31 in Musheerabad (The Hindu, Indian Express), 30 cited by Newslaundry witnesses, and 15 in Goshamahal.
- The identity of the applicant on each Form 7 remains undisclosed, a point highlighted by Owaisi and the Election Commission’s call for verification.
What’s Next
The Telangana SIR objections period ends on October 7 2026, after which final electoral rolls are slated for publication by November 5 2026. The Chief Electoral Officer’s office indicated that criminal proceedings may be pursued against any BLA found to have filed false bulk applications, while the ECI’s directive mandates a formal inquiry before punitive action. In Karnataka, the state government has asked the Election Commission to register FIRs and launch a statewide probe into alleged bulk Form 7 filings.