Rs 20 Crore Voter ID Scam: R Ashoka Slams Karnataka Govt
Opposition leader R Ashoka claims Rs 20 crore was misused to print millions of unnecessary voter ID cards in Karnataka.
The political atmosphere in Karnataka has turned volatile as the Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka, has sounded the alarm over a massive financial irregularity. Ashoka has alleged a Karnataka voter ID scam involving the misuse of over Rs 20 crore in public funds intended for the printing of voter identity cards for the upcoming corporation elections.
The Numbers That Don't Add Up
Speaking at a press conference on October 28, 2026, R Ashoka pointed toward a glaring discrepancy between the number of cards printed and the actual number of eligible voters. According to the opposition leader, the state government printed 90 lakh voter identity cards. However, he claimed that the electoral roll, following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, only accounts for approximately 59 to 60 lakh voters.
This leaves a staggering surplus of about 30 to 31 lakh cards, leading Ashoka to question why the government spent public money on millions of cards that have no corresponding voters.
Suspicious Timelines and 'Single-Tender' Allegations
Ashoka raised serious concerns regarding the speed and method by which the contract was awarded. He highlighted a timeline that he describes as highly suspicious:
- May 14: The Election Commission of India announced the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
- May 15: Just one day later, the state government and the State Election Commission invited tenders.
- May 29: The work order was officially issued.
Beyond the timing, Ashoka alleged that the contract was awarded through a single-tender system, which he claims is a direct violation of the established rules laid down by the Finance Department.
Outdated Data and Redundancy
The opposition leader further claimed that the government bypassed mandatory door-to-door verification. Instead, he alleged that the cards were printed using outdated data from the previous Lok Sabha elections, rendering the current batch of IDs potentially inaccurate.
Adding to the controversy, Ashoka questioned the very necessity of these state-issued cards, noting that the Election Commission of India already provides Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to citizens.
Challenge to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar
In a bold move, R Ashoka challenged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to actually distribute these cards to the public to prove their validity. He noted that the cards have reportedly been lying unused for nearly four months after being dispatched to the corporations.
Demand for High-Level Probe
Given the scale of the alleged financial misappropriation, R Ashoka has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the matter. He has called for:
- A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged scam.
- The formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough audit of the electoral rolls.