Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Bommai Says SIR Is Exposing Ineligible Votes
Basavaraj Bommai spoke to reporters in Haveri about a voter-list review called SIR.
He said the review was going smoothly and that a draft voter list was expected on October 8.
Bommai accused Congress members of using false voter entries in the past.
He said Congress members protested outside an Election Officer’s office and that party leaders handed in a complaint.
Bommai said election officers are responsible for handling voter-list questions.
He said the voter list should keep eligible voters and remove ineligible entries.
He also criticized Congress demands to cancel some elections and suspend the chief election commissioner.
These claims and criticisms were made by Bommai.
Basavaraj Bommai alleged that Congress members had used fake votes for about 20 years, including votes cast in multiple places or in deceased people’s names.
Bommai said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls was proceeding smoothly and that the draft voter list was scheduled for October 8.
He accused Congress members of creating confusion by protesting outside an Election Officer’s office and said party leaders had submitted a memorandum.
Bommai said election officers, not the state government, were responsible for addressing the voter-roll issue, and that only eligible votes should be retained.
He criticized Congress demands to cancel elections held after SIR began and to suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Who
- Former Karnataka Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai, discussing Congress and the SIR process.
- What
- Bommai alleged that Congress was protesting to protect ineligible voter entries and criticized related demands by Congress leaders.
- When
- The article says the draft voter list was scheduled for October 8; it does not specify the date of Bommai’s remarks.
- Where
- Haveri, Karnataka.
- Why
- Bommai said the voter-roll review should retain eligible voters and remove ineligible entries.
Congress demands and actions
Bommai’s response
SIR and voter lists
Congress demands and actions
Congress members protested outside an Election Officer’s office; the article also reports Mallikarjun Kharge’s demand to cancel elections held after SIR began.
Bommai’s response
Bommai said the process was proceeding smoothly and that eligible votes should be retained while ineligible entries are removed.
Election administration
Congress demands and actions
Congress and its alliance partners demanded the suspension of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to the article.
Bommai’s response
Bommai rejected the demand and said election officers, rather than the state government, were responsible for handling voter-roll matters.
- Speaker
- Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament
- Location
- Haveri
- Process discussed
- SIR voter-roll revision
- Draft voter list
- Scheduled for release on October 8, according to Bommai
- Bommai’s position
- Eligible votes should be protected and ineligible votes removed
- Responsibility
- Bommai said the matter falls under Election Officers, not the state government
- Other demands mentioned
- Cancel elections held after SIR began and suspend Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar