Karnataka CM Accuses BJP of Bulk Form 7 Deletions in SIR

Outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office a crowd gathered as Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced a protest, alleging a mass, pre-filled Form 7 drive to delete voters during SIR¹⁵. The CM, flanked by ministers, cited Belagavi, Bhalki, and other districts by name and gave figures that estimated tens of thousands of objections aimed at minorities, SCs, and STs, insisting on a criminal case and a probe^8,15,16.

In Belagavi and Bhalki three FIRs had already been opened over bulk Form 7 submissions; the BJP defended itself, arguing that complaints about irregularities belong before the Election Commission and that any deletions must follow EC safeguards^21,12. The debate has spanned sit-ins, dharnas, and formal memoranda to the CEO, with the government continuing to press that the process must remain fair and transparent and that the EC is responsible for final decisions^5,6,11,18.

The controversy has drawn in other parties and watchdogs who point to patterns of pre-printed forms, large clusters of deletions in minority-dense areas, and calls for suspending or auditing the SIR, arguing the exercise could disenfranchise vulnerable voters while lawmakers push for accountability^9,24,25.

Observers note that Form 7 is the formal channel to object to inclusion or deletion of names from rolls and that the final word lies with the EC, which has faced political pressure from both sides as the revision proceeds^1,3.