'Country's Biggest Conspiracy': DK Shivakumar Alleges Mass Voter Deletion
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar claims a massive conspiracy is underway to delete minority and Dalit voters using pre-printed Form 7 applications.
In a scathing attack on the electoral process, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has alleged that a massive, organized conspiracy is being executed to fraudulently remove legitimate voters from electoral rolls across the nation. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, the Chief Minister claimed that the operation specifically targets minority, Dalit, and Backward Class communities to manipulate democratic outcomes.
Allegations of Pre-Printed Fraudulent Forms
Shivakumar leveled serious accusations against the ruling party, suggesting that the process of voter deletion is not a grassroots error but a high-level, systematic operation. He alleged that tens of thousands of computerized Form 7 applications—used to request the removal of a voter's name—were pre-printed at the BJP headquarters.
"Their application Form 7 was printed somewhere in the BJP headquarters. All computerized," Shivakumar stated. He claimed these forms were populated with precise voter information and then distributed to local cadres to be submitted. According to the Chief Minister, these applications specifically targeted voters from marginalized communities, including minorities, Dalits, and those from backward classes.
The Chief Minister further alleged that once the Congress party began filing complaints, there were immediate attempts to cover the tracks. "Now after we filed a complaint, they immediately approached many of the BLOs and took back the forms. I am having a load of one bag full of this. Lakhs of such type of forms they have submitted. Is this not a crime?" he questioned.
Support for Rahul Gandhi's Stance
During his address, Shivakumar also took the opportunity to praise Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. He noted that Gandhi is working tirelessly for the protection of democratic rights without seeking any personal or partisan benefit. Shivakumar emphasized that the right to vote is essentially the right to live, and it is the duty of opposition leaders to safeguard this fundamental principle.
FIR Registered in Bengaluru Over Voter Deletion Malpractice
The Chief Minister's allegations follow recent legal developments in Bengaluru. On Tuesday, the Bengaluru Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two BJP Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and several others for allegedly submitting fraudulent Form-7 applications. The malpractice reportedly targeted 5,698 voters in the Jayanagar Assembly constituency.
The FIR, filed following a complaint by Karnataka Mahila Congress President Sowmya Reddy, details how the alleged malpractice occurred during the summary revision of rolls between June 16 and October 5. The complaint alleges that:
- BJP BLAs, identified as Ramakrishna and Yogesh, filed false objections claiming voters had shifted residence.
- The targets were primarily minority communities and voters perceived as unfavorable to the BJP.
- The accused allegedly misused the identity details of residents, such as Ramesh and his wife Roopa, to file objections without their consent.
- Forged signatures were used on applications submitted to the Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Jayanagar 4th Block.
The police have booked the accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including sections related to forgery and criminal conspiracy. An investigation into the matter is currently underway.