Big fraud: DK Shivakumar alleges bulk Form 7 filings to delete voters during Karnataka SIR

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday alleged that there was a coordinated attempt to delete large numbers of names from the electoral roll through multiple Form 7 applications filed during the ongoing SIR in the state. Calling the exercise a "big fraud", he accused the BJP and Janata Dal leaders of targeting eligible voters and said the matter needed an immediate enquiry.

Shivakumar claimed that voters from minorities, backward classes, Dalits, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were being targeted. He also said it was impossible for such "illegal" deletion of votes to happen without Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's knowledge and demanded criminal action against those responsible.

Addressing a press conference, Shivakumar said, "There is a big conspiracy by BJP and Janata Dal leaders," and alleged that bulk Form 7 applications were being filed to remove eligible voters. He claimed that "more than 45 lakh" voters were facing discrepancies in the electoral roll.

According to him, pre-printed Form 7 applications carrying voters' names, addresses and EPIC numbers had been submitted in bulk in constituencies including Vijayapura, Bhalki, Belagavi, Mysuru, Mudigere and Bengaluru.

"In all the booths, in more than 70 per cent of the booths, we have already identified that various BJP leaders and party leaders have been taking Form-7," he alleged.

Shivakumar said some individuals had filed dozens or even hundreds of applications, and cited cases in which people allegedly submitted 84, 92, 241 and 423 forms. He said many of these applications were filed on September 22, 23 and 24, and asked how details such as EPIC numbers and addresses had reached those who submitted them.

"How did this data come. Who gave this data. Who is doing this. This is a big question," he said.

Referring to Vijayapura district, Shivakumar said more than 14,000 applications had been filed in Vijayapura City alone. He said around 1,634 applications were filed in Babaleshwar by six persons and were later withdrawn after officials warned of possible legal consequences. He also said about 13,000 applications were submitted in Vijayapura City Assembly constituency over two days, and alleged that the applicants included BJP workers and staff linked to the office of a BJP legislator.

"Six people submitted 1,651 applications," he said about the Babaleshwar cases.

In Bhalki, minister Eshwar Khandre said 3,244 Form 7 applications were submitted on a single day by 36 persons, whom he identified as BJP workers. He cited the example of one person who allegedly filed 241 applications. Khandre said voters whose names appeared in the applications later approached police, alleging false information and forgery were used in an attempt to remove their names from the electoral roll.

Shivakumar also referred to alleged instances in Belagavi, where he said BJP leaders and workers had acknowledged submitting applications. He named BJP's defeated candidate Dr Ravi Patil and alleged that Patil had admitted that "we made a mistake".

He further alleged that forms were brought to polling booths by people associated with a hospital run by Patil, and said there were cases in which people whose names and phone numbers appeared on applications denied filing them.

The chief minister said FIRs had already been registered in Belagavi, Bhalki, Mysuru and other places over alleged attempts to illegally delete names from electoral rolls. He said the Election Commission should begin a criminal investigation and file FIRs over what he called "vote theft" and an electoral offence.

"It is the duty of the Election Commission, the State Election Commission, to file an immediate FIR. There shall be an FIR on the vote theft, on the electoral offence, on the criminality of this," he said.

Shivakumar said he would personally submit the documents and evidence collected by his government and party to the Election Commission. "I am going there. I am sitting there. I will not come back from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer till orders for an enquiry, a detailed enquiry into the criminal conspiracy, are issued," he said, adding that he was ready to sleep at the CEO's office and even skip the scheduled Cabinet meeting if required.

The Chief Minister added he had spoken to the Election Commission, asked officials to obtain the relevant data and directed the Chief Secretary to collect information. While saying the state government would examine the legal provisions available, he maintained that the Election Commission had the primary responsibility to act on alleged electoral offences.

He said, "It is my Dharma, my duty, my responsibility and my right to create awareness among every voter." Shivakumar said Congress had appointed 54,000 BLA-2s, while the BJP had appointed 21,000 and JD(S) 300, according to lists on the Election Commission website. He said the government had cooperated with the Election Commission during the SIR by helping create awareness and assisting voters in obtaining documents.

Shivakumar also appealed to Booth Level Agents, BLA-2s, legislators, political workers and voters to immediately report suspected Form 7 applications, and urged Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Electoral Registration Officers, Tahsildars and other officials to report irregularities to the Election Commission.

Demanding that the SIR be scrapped, Shivakumar said, "Every person must be given the right to vote," and called for legal action against those involved. He also appealed to the media to create awareness among voters, especially the poor, Dalits, minorities and Scheduled Tribes.

"As the chief minister of this state, if I do not protect all these poor people and minorities in this state, I am not fit to sit in this position. It is my bound duty to see that I protect every citizen and every voter of the state," he said, adding that this included BJP voters as well.

Later, Shivakumar reached Chief Electoral Officer Anbukkumar's office and submitted a memorandum seeking an inquiry into attempts to delete a large number of votes.