Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Narayanaswamy Challenges Congress to Prove Vote Theft Claims
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy of the BJP criticized Congress over its claims of vote theft.
He said that if Congress believes elections in Karnataka and Kerala were affected, it should resign from governing those states.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly asked the Election Commission to cancel elections held after a voter-list review and to bring back paper ballots.
Narayanaswamy defended the review, called the process constitutional and said Congress had conducted similar reviews in the past.
He said Form 7 forms can be used to remove names of people who have died, duplicate entries and people who should not be on the voter list.
He denied claims that the BJP was printing or misusing those forms.
He also said no voters had yet been removed through Form 7 applications and disputed claims that 40 to 50 lakh names had been deleted.
The BJP plans to complain to the Election Commission, while Narayanaswamy challenged Congress to provide evidence.
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy challenged Congress to resign its Karnataka and Kerala governments if it believes vote theft occurred there.
He was responding to Mallikarjun Kharge’s reported letter asking the Election Commission to cancel elections held after the Special Intensive Revision and restore ballot-paper voting.
Narayanaswamy defended the SIR exercise as constitutional and said similar electoral-roll revisions took place under Congress governments.
He said Form 7 applications are intended to remove deceased, duplicate and ineligible voters, and denied that any names had yet been removed through them.
He said the BJP would complain to the Election Commission, demanded documentary evidence from Congress and warned of protests if BJP workers were targeted.
- Who
- Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and the Congress, whose president Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly wrote to the Election Commission.
- What
- Narayanaswamy challenged Congress over its vote-theft allegations and defended the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- When
- Narayanaswamy spoke to reporters; no date is given.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka; the allegations concerned Karnataka and Kerala.
- Why
- He was responding to Kharge’s reported request to cancel elections held after the SIR and return to ballot-paper voting.
Congress allegations and demands
Narayanaswamy and BJP response
Vote theft and electoral process
Congress allegations and demands
Congress has alleged vote theft; Kharge reportedly asked the Election Commission to cancel elections held after the SIR and restore ballot-paper voting.
Narayanaswamy and BJP response
Narayanaswamy challenged Congress to provide documentary evidence and said it should resign from its Karnataka and Kerala governments if vote theft occurred.
Special Intensive Revision
Congress allegations and demands
Congress is opposing the current SIR exercise, according to Narayanaswamy, and Kharge reportedly sought cancellation of elections held after it.
Narayanaswamy and BJP response
Narayanaswamy said the SIR is being conducted under constitutional provisions and that similar revisions took place under Congress governments.
Form 7 and voter deletions
Congress allegations and demands
The article reports claims that Form 7 applications were being printed or misused by the BJP and that 40–50 lakh voters had been deleted.
Narayanaswamy and BJP response
Narayanaswamy denied misuse, said the forms are available on the Election Commission website, and said no names had yet been removed through Form 7 applications.
- Speaker
- Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader
- Location of remarks
- Bengaluru
- Congress request
- Kharge reportedly asked the Election Commission to cancel elections held after the SIR and restore ballot-paper voting.
- Narayanaswamy's challenge
- He said Congress should resign from its Karnataka and Kerala governments if it believes vote theft occurred there.
- Form 7
- Narayanaswamy said the forms are intended to remove deceased, duplicate and ineligible voters.
- Voter deletions
- He said no names had yet been removed through Form 7 applications and disputed claims of 40–50 lakh deletions.
- Planned action
- He said the BJP would complain to the Election Commission and protest if its workers were targeted.