Bengaluru, Oct 1 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday said the EC should independently verify Form-7 applications seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls and alleged that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was exerting pressure on the poll panel.
The senior BJP leader’s remarks came hours after Shivakumar, along with his Cabinet colleagues and MLAs, staged a sit-in outside the office of Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar, demanding an FIR and an inquiry into alleged misuse of Form-7 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Form-7 is a voter application form for objection for proposed inclusion/ deletion of name in the existing electoral roll.
“Anyone can submit an application. Whether it should be removed or retained is for the Election Commission to decide. They have to conduct an inquiry,” Ashoka told reporters here.
He said the poll panel should conduct spot verification and ascertain whether voters whose names have been proposed for deletion actually reside at the given addresses.
“If someone is registered at three or four places their names should be removed. If they are registered at only one place, how can the Commission remove their name. There is no question of deletion unless there is bogus or duplicate registration,” he said.
Ashoka alleged that Shivakumar was attempting to dictate terms to a constitutional body by demanding an FIR over the Form-7 applications.
“The EC has its own rules and regulations. Who are you (CM) to tell it to file an FIR. The EC will take the decision,” he said.
The BJP leader also questioned the chief minister’s decision to stage a protest outside the CEO’s office, saying political parties should not put pressure on the poll panel.
“We are a political party. We will not put pressure on the Election Commission, force it, threaten it or dictate terms to it,” Ashoka advised Shivakumar.
He demanded that eligible voters should not be deleted from the electoral rolls, irrespective of their religion, while also calling for removal of duplicate or illegal registrations.
“The Election Commission must function impartially. Any genuine voter of this country, irrespective of religion, should get the right to vote. There is no question about it,” he said.
Referring to Shivakumar’s demand for an FIR, Ashoka said the CM should allow the EC to take a decision according to its rules.
“Why are you directing the EC. Who are you to do that,” he asked.
Shivakumar had earlier submitted a memorandum to the CEO seeking an immediate, impartial and time-bound probe into alleged bulk filing of Form-7 applications. He cited large numbers of applications in constituencies including Belagavi North, Mudigere, Babaleshwar, Narasimha Raja and Bhalki, and alleged that some forms contained pre-printed voter details.
Ashoka rejected allegations that the BJP had systematically prepared and printed Form-7 applications.
On the allegation that BJP workers had filed hundreds of applications despite a limit on the number that could be submitted, Ashoka said the EC should examine the matter.
The BJP leader also claimed that bulk applications had already been rejected in Belagavi, while individually submitted applications were being verified.
He maintained that Form-7 could be submitted by citizens and not only by Booth Level Agents.
“There is nothing that says only BLAs can submit Form-7. Any citizen of this country can submit it,” Ashoka said.
On allegations that one crore voters had been deleted, Ashoka sought figures on voters who had shifted to neighbouring states.
The LoP said he would consult BJP leaders, including Union minister Pralhad Joshi and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, before deciding whether to submit a counter-complaint to the EC.
He added that the BJP’s position was that genuine voters should remain on the rolls while duplicate registrations should be removed after verification.
“Form-6 is for inclusion and Form-7 is for deletion. The Election Commission has to decide that. PTI GMS SA
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