2 hrs ago
Karnataka BJP Demands Proof of Voter Deletion Conspiracy
Karnataka’s Chief Minister says there may have been a plan to remove about 50 lakh voters from voter lists.
The BJP says he must show proof or resign.
The BJP says Form-7 is a legal way to object to names on voter lists.
Filing this form does not automatically remove anyone’s name.
Election officials must check the objection and make the final decision.
The Chief Minister protested at the election office in Bengaluru and asked for a criminal investigation.
The state’s Chief Electoral Officer told officials to act against people who knowingly make false declarations.
The BJP also wants officials to check a large increase in voters in one Mysuru constituency.
Both sides say the Election Commission should make the process clear and protect eligible voters.
B.Y. Vijayendra challenged D.K. Shivakumar to provide evidence for his allegation that the BJP conspired to delete around 50 lakh voters.
Vijayendra said Form-7 applications are legal objections and do not automatically remove names from electoral rolls.
He said electoral authorities, not the BJP, decide whether names are added or deleted after verification and inquiry.
Shivakumar staged a dharna in Bengaluru, seeking a criminal case and investigation into the alleged conspiracy.
The BJP also sought verification of an alleged 1.30 lakh-voter increase in Mysuru’s Narasimharaja constituency.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra are the principal figures in the dispute; the Election Commission and state electoral officials are responsible for verification.
- What
- The BJP challenged Shivakumar to prove his allegation that the BJP conspired to delete around 50 lakh voters through Form-7 applications.
- Where
- The protest took place at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru, Karnataka; the BJP also raised concerns about Mysuru’s Narasimharaja Assembly constituency.
- When
- Shivakumar staged the protest on Thursday, while Vijayendra issued his challenge on Friday; no calendar date was provided.
- Why
- The dispute concerns alleged attempts to remove eligible voters, the use of Form-7 objections, and verification of electoral-roll changes.
Chief Minister’s Allegation
BJP’s Response
Alleged voter deletion
Chief Minister’s Allegation
D.K. Shivakumar alleges that the BJP conspired to remove around 50 lakh voters, including members of Ahinda communities, Dalits, backward classes and minorities.
BJP’s Response
B.Y. Vijayendra says Shivakumar has not publicly produced specific documents or evidence and must prove the allegation or resign.
Use of Form-7
Chief Minister’s Allegation
Shivakumar seeks a criminal case and investigation into the alleged misuse of Form-7 applications to delete eligible voters.
BJP’s Response
The BJP says Form-7 is available to political parties and eligible individuals as a lawful objection process and does not itself delete anyone’s name.
Electoral-roll verification
Chief Minister’s Allegation
The Chief Minister’s protest emphasizes protecting eligible voters from alleged removal.
BJP’s Response
The BJP says verification is needed to identify deceased, duplicate, shifted or otherwise ineligible voters, while insisting that no eligible voter should be unfairly removed.
Key facts
- Alleged voter deletions
- Around 50 lakh voters, according to D.K. Shivakumar’s allegation.
- BJP response
- B.Y. Vijayendra demanded documentary evidence and said Shivakumar should resign if he cannot substantiate the allegation.
- Form-7 purpose
- A legal mechanism for objections involving allegedly ineligible, deceased, shifted or duplicate voters.
- Decision-making authority
- Competent election authorities decide electoral-roll additions, deletions and objections after verification and inquiry.
- Protest demand
- Shivakumar sought registration of a criminal case and an investigation into the alleged conspiracy.
- Narasimharaja voter increase
- The BJP cited an increase of around 1.30 lakh voters over the last two elections and requested verification.
- Chief Electoral Officer’s direction
- V. Anbukumar directed Electoral Registration Officers to act against applicants found to have knowingly made false declarations.
Quotes
B.Y. Vijayendra
Karnataka BJP president and MLA
“The BJP has no authority to directly delete anyone’s name from the electoral roll. A name does not get deleted merely because a Form-7 application is submitted. A decision is taken only after the prescribed process, including verification, objections and inquiry.”
thehansindia.com
“As the Chief Minister himself has made such a serious allegation, he should prove it with documentary evidence. Otherwise, he should resign from the post of Chief Minister.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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