Bengaluru, Oct 5 (PTI) A delegation of NDA leaders on Monday accused the Karnataka government of “unduly interfering” in the SIR of electoral rolls and alleged that the police machinery was being misused to intimidate those filing objections through Form-7.
In a complaint submitted to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, the delegation alleged that members of the Congress government and the ruling party workers were influencing the SIR exercise and that criminal cases were being registered “illegally” against individuals, particularly BJP workers and sympathisers, who had filed Form-7 objections.
Form-7 is a voter application form for objection for proposed inclusion/deletion of name in the existing electoral roll.
The delegation comprising BJP and JD(S) leaders, including Union Ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje, MP and former CM Bsavaraj Bommai met CEO V Anbukkumar and submitted a complaint letter.
The leaders in the letter urged the CEO to issue directions to electoral officers and the district administration to protect those exercising their statutory right to file objections, and asked the state police chief to ensure that “false or unwarranted” FIRs were not registered against them.
The leaders said the SIR exercise was at an advanced stage of the notice phase and disposal of claims and objections, and maintained that filing objections through Form-7 was a legitimate statutory right under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
They cited Rule 13(2), which provides that an objection to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll should be filed in Form-7 by a person whose name is already included in the roll.
The delegation also pointed out that objections are subject to scrutiny and inquiry by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), with the objector and the person against whom the objection is made entitled to be heard.
It further contended that there was no prohibition on filing Form-7 objections in bulk, citing an Election Commission communication dated January 16, 2026, and the Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023.
“There are no restrictions on the number of Form-7 applications that may be submitted to the ERO/AERO,” the delegation said, adding that objections were required to be cross-verified by election officials.
The NDA leaders alleged that the Congress government was using the state police machinery to file serious criminal cases, including charges relating to cheating and forgery against those filing objections.
They referred to FIRs allegedly registered in Bhalki in Bidar district, Market Area in Belagavi, Vyalikaval in Bengaluru, Ballari and Narasimharaja in Mysuru.
The delegation claimed that such action amounted to interference in the functioning of the Election Commission of India and could undermine the SIR exercise.
It also questioned the legal basis for a circular issued on October 1 proposing action under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, following an alleged protest by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his ministerial colleagues outside the Chief Electoral Office.
The NDA leaders sought clarification on how a private individual was permitted to file a complaint (regarding the misue of Form-7) under the relevant provisions, how the complainant obtained the official document concerned and under what authority the complaint was accepted and acted upon.
They alleged that the October 1 protest by the chief minister and ministers, despite prohibitory orders, amounted to undue pressure on the Chief Electoral Office.
The delegation also cited a 2022 order of the Karnataka High Court and the Bengaluru city regulations governing protests, arguing that demonstrations were required to be held at designated places such as Freedom Park.
The NDA leaders expressed concern that the Chief Electoral Office had “succumbed” to pressure from the state government and sought steps to ensure that the SIR process was conducted independently and without interference.
They also urged the CEO to direct the District Magistrates, EROs and AEROs to safeguard the rights of those filing Form-7 objections and asked the Director General and Inspector General of Police to ensure that police did not interfere in the electoral-roll revision process.
Later, speaking to reporters, Bommai said, the Election Commission has clearly clarified that no FIR can be registered in connection with the SIR process without a complaint from the Election Commission, and the Commission has stated that it has not lodged a complaint anywhere. Therefore, the state government filing FIRs is illegal.
“Without the election commission’s complaint, no FIR can be filed regarding the election process, as per law. Election Commission must file a complaint as per Representation of the People Act in such cases, but under BNS, cases are being registered every day haphazardly based on private complaints,” he said.
Noting that the CEO, based on their demand to issue clarification regarding the FIRs being registered on the basis of private complaints, has assured that he will seek instructions from the commission and act accordingly, the MP said, “CM Shivakumar is anxious that his dream for 2028 will be shattered if the SIR is completed as per law and hence is indulging in such high drama. Commission should clarify what is as per law.” PTI KSU KH
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