The controversy over Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has widened beyond allegations of individual errors, with voters in Bhalki, Vijayapura and Belagavi alleging that large numbers of Form 7 applications were filed to seek deletion of names, including those of Muslim electors.
However, there is no established finding that the applications were part of a coordinated political operation. “The forms contain voters’ names and EPIC numbers along with applicant names, mobile numbers and signatures, but no date of submission. When we call the mobile numbers mentioned, they are found to be from Mysuru and Bengaluru areas.
Because the affected voters say the objections were concentrated among Muslims, the allegations have acquired political significance. Officials have said a Form 7 application does not automatically result in deletion and that every case must undergo field verification and due process. Mukhtar Bidre, a Nittur resident, said residents began checking the applications after learning about them on September 21. Residents identified Pramod Kumar Biradar, Pandurang Sharanappa and Chandrakant Baburao as applicants, alleging that each had submitted between 50 and 100 applications in a day.
There appears to be an attempt to create fake documents and deprive us of our voting rights,” he said. They said the affected voters had Aadhaar cards, old voter IDs, ration cards and other documents establishing that they continued to live in the village. “It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to conduct a thorough investigation and make public the facts, including the alleged motive,” he said.
Jagadishwara Biradar, district head of Nagarika Matakavalu Samiti, questioned whether sufficient checks had been carried out before the applications were accepted.
The issue has also surfaced elsewhere during the SIR. In Bhalki Assembly constituency in Bidar district, more than 500 such applications were filed across polling stations 51, 52, 53 and 54 in Nittur (B), according to information obtained by Hindustan Times. Booths 52 and 53 have a sizeable Muslim electorate. More than 1,000 Muslim voters are also facing objections at polling stations 129, 107, 111, 112, 114 and 115 in Bhalki town. In Babaleshwar, large and medium industries minister MB Patil said objections had been filed against 1,607 voters and later withdrawn. He said about 14,000 objections had also been filed and withdrawn in Vijayapura City.
Rural development and panchayat raj minister Eshwar B Khandre, who represents Bhalki, said he had received reports of the alleged irregularities and sought a factual report from the district election officer and deputy commissioner.
