'Process to Favour BJP': Priyank Kharge Alleges Massive Conspiracy to Exclude Voters
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge claims the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls is a conspiracy to exclude voters and favour the BJP.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has sparked a political storm by alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is not a routine administrative exercise, but a calculated conspiracy designed to favour the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and sideline the opposition.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kharge claimed that the process has been used to systematically exclude a staggering number of voters from the electoral rolls, effectively attempting to ensure that opposition parties are not in contention during elections.
One Crore Voters Missing: The SIR Controversy
The Minister highlighted a dramatic drop in the number of registered voters in Karnataka. According to data from the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the state's electorate plummeted from 5.54 crore before the revision exercise to approximately 4.55 crore in the final roll published on Tuesday. This represents a decline of nearly 17.92 per cent.
Kharge alleged that nearly one crore people have been left out of the process. He asserted that this pattern is not isolated to Karnataka, claiming that similar concerns regarding the SIR process have emerged in West Bengal and Bihar.
"The SIR is a process to favour the BJP. It was very evident in West Bengal, it was very evident in Bihar, and it's becoming increasingly evident even in my state of Karnataka," Kharge stated.
Allegations of 'Bogus' Form 7 Applications
A central part of the Minister's allegation involves the alleged bulk printing and submission of Form 7 applications, which are used to object to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll or to request the deletion of a name.
Kharge claimed that the pre-printing of these forms in bulk proves an attempt to keep specific sections of society away from the ballot box. He described the use of Form 7 after an SIR as a way of "purifying" the voter list to the benefit of the ruling party at the center.
Evidence of 'Vote Theft'
To support his claims of a conspiracy, the Minister cited specific instances of irregularities:
- Chittapur: Kharge claimed that 40 Form 7 applications submitted here were bogus, noting that complaints were filed not just by individuals but by Returning Officers, including the ARO and ERO.
- Aland: The Minister referred to a previous case in Aland, which he termed "vote chori" (vote theft). He alleged that out of 6,018 forms, a massive 5,994 were fake, leading to the filing of a 22,000-page charge sheet.
The Final Numbers
Despite the controversy, the final electoral roll for Karnataka has been published with the following breakdown:
- Total Electors: Approximately 4.55 crore.
- Male Electors: 2.26 crore.
- Female Electors: 2.29 crore.
- Third-Gender Electors: 2,841.
- Youth (18-19 years): 6.83 lakh.
- Senior Citizens (85+ years): 3.92 lakh.
On the Right to Protest
Switching topics, Priyank Kharge also addressed the issue of designated protest sites in Bengaluru and other parts of the state. He mentioned that the government is reviewing suggestions from activists to de-notify additional locations to ensure that the right to protest is not curbed.
He noted that an affidavit has been filed in the High Court by various parties, including civil rights activists. Kharge emphasized that the government seeks to maintain a "balancing act," ensuring that while protestors can exercise their rights, the rights of other citizens who are not protesting are also protected.