'False Claims': BJP Slams CM Over 50 Lakh Voter Deletion Allegation
Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra slams CM DK Shivakumar's allegation of a conspiracy to delete 50 lakh voters from electoral rolls.
In a heated political confrontation in Bengaluru, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra has vehemently rejected allegations made by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar regarding a conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls. The BJP leader dismissed the Chief Minister's claim that the party attempted to delete approximately 50 lakh voters—specifically targeting minority, Dalit, and backward class communities—as completely baseless and factually incorrect.
The Numbers Dispute: 50 Lakh vs 25,000
The core of the dispute lies in the number of Form 7 applications submitted to the Election Commission. While Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleged that the BJP had submitted between 25 to 50 lakh Form 7s to purge specific demographics, Vijayendra provided a drastically different figure.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Vijayendra stated that according to available information, only around 25,000 Form 7 applications had been submitted across various Assembly constituencies in Karnataka. He emphasized that these forms were not the work of a single entity but were submitted by various political parties across the state.
Understanding Form 7
Vijayendra took the opportunity to explain the legal mechanism behind the controversy. He clarified that Form 7 is a standard provision provided by the Election Commission to allow for objections against names that may have been illegally included in the electoral rolls.
- Purpose: To flag names that are allegedly included in the voters list illegally.
- Accessibility: Any political party can submit these applications.
- Authority: The final decision to remove a name rests solely with election officials, such as the Booth Level Officer (BLO) and the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), based on factual correctness.
'Prove It': BJP Challenges the Chief Minister
The BJP President did not stop at mere denial; he issued a direct challenge to the Chief Minister to substantiate his claims. Vijayendra argued that the Chief Minister, as a responsible head of the state, cannot engage in "hit-and-run" politics without evidence.
"I also challenge DK Shivakumar today; let him prove it because he is alleging that we are trying to delete SC, ST and OBC from the voter list. He cannot do a hit-and-run case," Vijayendra declared. He questioned whether the BJP even possesses the legal authority to delete names, reminding the CM that the power lies with the Election Commission, not political parties.
Accusations of Diversion Tactics
Beyond the electoral roll row, Vijayendra accused the Congress-led government of using these allegations as a smokescreen to divert public attention from pressing state issues. He cited several failures of the current administration, including:
- Drought Crisis: The inability of the government to address the severe drought situation in Karnataka.
- Corruption Allegations: Instances where ruling party MLAs have raised corruption concerns against sitting ministers.
- Financial Instability: Concerns regarding the state's precarious financial position.
Vijayendra further highlighted reports of bribery, mentioning that a contractors' association president had written to the Chief Minister alleging that legislators were demanding bribes for contract works, adding to the mounting pressure on the state government.