DK Shivakumar Demands Criminal Probe Into Alleged 'Vote Theft'
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar meets CEO to demand a criminal probe into alleged bulk Form 7 filings aimed at deleting legitimate voters.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has launched a scathing attack on the opposition, accusing them of a massive conspiracy to manipulate voter rolls. Accompanied by six cabinet ministers, the Chief Minister met with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V Anbukkumar on Thursday to demand an immediate FIR and a time-bound criminal investigation into the alleged bulk submission of fraudulent Form 7 objections.
The Chief Minister alleged that during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, there has been a coordinated attempt to delete legitimate voters through "vote chori" (vote theft). Shivakumar specifically pointed towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)], claiming they are attempting to "backstab democracy."
Massive Surge in Form 7 Filings
In a formal representation submitted to the CEO, the state government highlighted an alarming spike in Form 7 objection forms filed during the final days of the claims and objections window, particularly between September 22 and 24. The memorandum detailed specific instances of bulk objections across various assembly segments:
- Mudigere: 6,259 objections
- Belagavi North: Approximately 3,000 objections
- Bhalki: 2,285 objections
- Babaleshwar: 1,373 objections
- Narasimharaja (Mysuru): 1,200 objections
Shivakumar claimed that in constituencies where senior ministers hold seats or where the Congress party won by significant margins, attempts were made to delete between 10,000 to 20,000 votes. He further alleged that the targeting was disproportionate, specifically affecting voters from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and minority communities.
Concerns Over Data Security and Leaks
A major point of contention raised by the Chief Minister was the source of sensitive voter information. He questioned how objectors obtained pre-printed forms that already contained electors' confidential details, such as addresses and EPIC numbers.
"How can a confidential document be leaked? I do not even know the EPIC numbers of my own family members. Yet, all details, addresses, and EPIC numbers have been pre-printed on forms and sent across all 224 constituencies," Shivakumar stated.
Drawing parallels to the previous "Chilume" electoral data controversy, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over unauthorized access to the Election Commission's database. He cited instances in Ballari and Bijapur where thousands of forms were submitted hastily, only to be retracted following public scrutiny.
Demand for Immediate Action
The Chief Minister emphasized that protecting the voters' franchise is his primary constitutional obligation. While the Election Commission has indicated it is conducting video conferences with all Deputy Commissioners to assess the situation, Shivakumar insisted on more decisive measures.
"The Deputy Commissioners must be directed to file criminal cases wherever these illegalities have occurred. I will wait until justice is delivered," he asserted.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the integrity of the SIR process is under threat. The CM alleged that a "big gang" is attempting to manipulate the system, claiming that a significant number of voters have already disappeared from the lists due to these fraudulent Form 7 submissions.