“No FIR can be registered in SIR matter without EC complaint”: BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai
BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai alleges Karnataka government is illegally registering FIRs regarding the SIR process without Election Commission complaints.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has launched a scathing attack on the state government, claiming that the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is entirely illegal.
Speaking to the media following a meeting between NDA leaders and the State Chief Electoral Officer, Bommai asserted that no police action can be initiated regarding the SIR matter unless a formal complaint is lodged by the Election Commission (EC) itself.
Allegations of Unlawful State Action
The BJP leader alleged that the current state administration is bypassing legal protocols by registering FIRs based on complaints submitted by private individuals. According to Bommai, the Election Commission has explicitly clarified that it has not filed any complaints concerning the SIR process.
"The Election Commission has clearly clarified that no FIR can be registered in connection with the SIR process without a complaint from the Election Commission, and the Commission has stated that it has not lodged a complaint anywhere. Therefore, the state government filing FIRs is illegal," Bommai stated.
He further accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of exerting undue pressure on the Election Commission and acting outside the bounds of the law. Bommai noted that while the Commission has confirmed it has not issued any complaints through Assistant Returning Officers (ARO) or Booth Level Officers (BLO), cases are reportedly being registered daily based on private complaints.
NDA Seeks Intervention from Central EC
In response to these developments, NDA leaders have requested the Election Commission to issue strict directions to the police. The goal is to prevent the registration of complaints related to the SIR process that stem from Form 6 and Form 7 applications.
Bommai informed the press that the State Chief Electoral Officer has already dispatched a letter to the Central Election Commission seeking necessary information and guidance on the matter.
Political Jabs at Rahul Gandhi and D.K. Shivakumar
The former Chief Minister did not mince words when addressing the stance of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Bommai highlighted what he termed as a contradiction in the Congress leader's position regarding voter list discrepancies.
"Last year, Rahul Gandhi alleged discrepancies regarding name additions in the voter list. Now, illegal voter names are being deleted, and he is saying, 'Do not delete them.' This is his absurd argument. He is worried that fake votes will be deleted," Bommai remarked.
Bommai also suggested that the motivations behind the state government's actions are rooted in political survival. He alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is anxious that a thorough purification of the voter list could jeopardize his political ambitions for the 2028 elections.
Verification Protocols for Voter Lists
Addressing concerns regarding the mass submission of Form 7 applications, Bommai maintained that the process remains subject to scrutiny. He pointed out that EPIC numbers are publicly available on the Election Commission's website and that complaints must undergo a verification process before any action is taken.
He concluded by noting that even judicial observations have suggested that immediate action should not be taken simply because a Form 7 complaint has been submitted.
The meeting saw the presence of several prominent leaders, including Union Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje, as well as Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.