Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Yediyurappa Warns of Statewide Protests Over Form-7 FIRs
Karnataka’s political parties are arguing about forms used to ask for names to be removed from voter lists.
The forms are called Form-7, and they were submitted in bulk during a review of the lists.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar says some forms may have been used to target eligible voters.
BJP leaders say their party workers are being unfairly investigated and harassed.
B.S. Yediyurappa warned that the BJP may protest across the state if this continues.
B.Y. Vijayendra said the party would also challenge the matter legally and may protest in the streets.
Police have registered several cases over alleged problems with the applications.
The BJP says election officials should decide whether each form is valid.
B.S. Yediyurappa warned of statewide protests if police action or alleged harassment of BJP workers over Form-7 applications continues.
Yediyurappa and other BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to Karnataka police chief M.A. Saleem, seeking lawful handling of cases and an end to what they call false FIRs.
B.Y. Vijayendra said the BJP would pursue legal action and could hold street protests or besiege police stations if FIRs continue.
The dispute concerns bulk Form-7 objections filed during the electoral-roll revision; the form can be used to request deletion of a name.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has sought an investigation into alleged bulk, pre-filled objections targeting eligible voters, including members of minority communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
- Who
- B.S. Yediyurappa, B.Y. Vijayendra and other BJP leaders; Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar; and Karnataka police.
- What
- BJP leaders warned of protests and legal action over FIRs and alleged harassment related to Form-7 objections.
- When
- The reports describe events on a Saturday and Shivakumar's protest on the preceding Thursday; one report is dated October 3, but the year is not specified.
- Where
- Karnataka, including Bengaluru.
- Why
- The dispute concerns police cases over alleged irregularities in bulk Form-7 applications and competing claims about attempts to delete eligible voters from electoral rolls.
BJP leaders' position
Shivakumar's allegations
Whether the bulk applications were improper
BJP leaders' position
Yediyurappa and Vijayendra say Form-7 is a legitimate process and that election officials should accept or reject applications based on their merits.
Shivakumar's allegations
Shivakumar alleges that bulk, pre-filled applications were part of an effort to delete eligible voters, including people from minority communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
Police action against BJP workers
BJP leaders' position
BJP leaders say workers should not be harassed or subjected to FIRs under government pressure, and that cases should be handled according to law.
Shivakumar's allegations
Shivakumar has demanded a criminal case and investigation into the alleged voter-deletion effort; the reports do not give his direct response to the BJP's objections to police action.
- Form-7
- An Election Commission of India form used to request deletion of a name from an electoral roll.
- Electoral process
- The applications were filed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- BJP memorandum
- BJP leaders asked Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem for cases to be handled according to law and for alleged harassment to stop.
- Yediyurappa's warning
- He warned of statewide protests if police action against BJP workers or alleged harassment continued.
- Vijayendra's warning
- He said the BJP would fight legally and could take to the streets or besiege police stations if FIRs continued.
- Shivakumar's demand
- He sought a case and investigation into alleged bulk, pre-filled objections seeking deletion of eligible voters' names.
- Police cases
- Police have registered several cases concerning alleged irregularities in Form-7 applications.
