Karkala

BJP leader and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar has taken a strong stand against Congress over its opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka. He says political parties should let the Election Commission of India finish its verification work instead of calling applications fraudulent before they are even examined.

The Form-7 Debate

The dispute centres on Form-7 applications, which are used to request deletion of a name from an electoral roll. Congress leaders have raised alarms about bulk Form-7 filings, claiming eligible voters could be removed from the rolls. Sunil Kumar disagrees. He argues that an application alone does not prove voter deletion or fraud. Election officials must check every claim before any decision is taken.

Congress has been vocal about its concerns. The party organised a protest at Deputy Commissioner's Office in Manipal on September 28, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. District Congress unit in Udupi led the demonstration, alleging irregularities in how the SIR process is being handled.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has agreed to start legal proceedings against those responsible for fraudulent bulk Form-7 applications. Electoral registration officers have also been told to act where violations are found.

For voters, the real question is simple. Are your name and details correctly listed in the electoral roll? Election authorities will examine all claims and objections before finalising the rolls. The SIR process continues across Karnataka, and this political debate is far from over.