Bengaluru, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has expressed his support for the Election Commission‘s directive aimed at identifying and enrolling eligible voters who were previously overlooked during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He characterized this initiative as a triumph not just for the Congress party or the state government, but for voters across the entire nation.
The Election Commission has instructed a special campaign in states and Union Territories where the SIR process has concluded. This campaign aims to include the names of newly eligible voters in the electoral rolls. The Commission has also emphasized the need for regular updates to the voter list to facilitate this enrollment.
Speaking to reporters near the Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar noted that the directive followed a protest by Congress outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Karnataka. He stated, “We welcome the Election Commission’s order. This is not just a victory for Congress or the government. It is a victory for the voters of Karnataka and the entire nation, against attempts to disenfranchise eligible voters.”
Shivakumar highlighted that the Election Commission has taken note of complaints regarding the removal of a significant number of voters’ names and has directed election officials to investigate these grievances. He mentioned that officials are to organize special camps for first-time voters and ensure adherence to the procedures outlined in Forms 6 and 7 by booth-level officers, chief electoral officers, and district electoral officers.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of setting up these camps at the booth level. This would help vulnerable groups, including those living in rain shelters, workers, and the homeless, to register in the voter list. The Election Commission has also announced special measures for enrolling voters who were missed during the SIR, particularly young and first-time eligible voters.
Shivakumar accused representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of submitting applications to remove the names of voters from marginalized communities. He stated, “This is shameful. Their aim is to create divisions among communities, castes, and religions, and to disenfranchise Dalit and minority voters.”
Regarding the BJP’s protests, Shivakumar pointed out that BJP leaders have admitted to submitting around 25,000 applications. He described this as a “criminal conspiracy” that warrants action against those responsible. He added that if there are complaints against him or evidence of wrongdoing, those should also be investigated.
The Chief Minister emphasized that it is his duty to protect citizens’ voting rights. He remarked, “The right to vote is linked to the right to live with dignity. Therefore, this is not just D.K. Shivakumar’s victory, but a victory for voters across the country.”
He also referenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against alleged irregularities in the voter list. Shivakumar stated that Congress has consistently raised this issue and that civic groups and activists have gathered data and submitted reports on the alleged discrepancies.
He urged the media to bring this issue to the forefront and called for a national discussion on the protection of voters’ rights.
It is noteworthy that there has been controversy regarding the large number of Form 7 applications submitted in Karnataka. Following Shivakumar’s protest, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, V. Anbukumar, directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found providing false information during the investigation process.
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