Bengaluru, July 6 (IANS) Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday accused the Karnataka government and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of attempting to derail the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The NDA leaders alleged large-scale violations of the Election Commission of India’s guidelines, and added that they would approach the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi if corrective measures were not initiated.
The allegations were made after an NDA delegation submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar in Bengaluru seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The delegation included Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, H.D. Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje, besides several senior BJP leaders from Karnataka.
Addressing a joint press conference, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi alleged that the Congress government was violating the Election Commission of India’s prescribed procedures by distributing enumeration forms in groups instead of conducting mandatory door-to-door verification.
“The state government has taken people in herds like sheep and distributed enumeration forms during the SIR exercise. They are also conducting a separate SIR in selected booths under the Greater Bengaluru Authority, although they have no constitutional authority to do so,” Joshi alleged.
He accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the ruling Congress of conspiring to subvert the entire SIR process in Karnataka.
Responding to Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s criticism that the Election Commission was remaining silent over the alleged violations, Joshi said it was not the Election Commission but the state government that was undermining the revision process.
“The Election Commission is not sitting idle. It is the state government that is attempting to derail the SIR process. We have submitted detailed evidence of the alleged illegalities to the Chief Electoral Officer,” he said.
Joshi said the delegation had urged the Chief Electoral Officer to order re-enumeration wherever the Election Commission’s guidelines had allegedly been violated.
“The Chief Electoral Officer gave us a patient hearing and assured us that the matter would be examined. We have specifically sought re-enumeration in places where irregularities have occurred,” he said.
He added that if appropriate action is not initiated, the NDA delegation would meet the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 7).
“We are not making any allegation against the Chief Election Commissioner. We are only requesting him to ensure that proper action is taken and that re-enumeration is conducted wherever illegalities have occurred,” Joshi said.
The Union Minister also demanded strict action against senior officials responsible for the alleged violations, arguing that action against top officials would prevent junior officers from coming under political pressure.
Defending the need for mandatory house-to-house verification, Joshi said the exercise was essential to verify the existence and eligibility of voters.
“If enumeration forms are distributed collectively and one family member signs on behalf of others, officials cannot verify whether a voter has died or whether the details are accurate,” he said.
He also questioned the alleged practice of Booth Level Officers operating from mosques and dargahs instead of conducting door-to-door verification.
“If a BLO is sitting in a mosque or a dargah, how will officials verify whether an individual is an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh?” he asked.
Joshi further criticised Chief Minister Shivakumar over his reported statement that people whose names were not included in the electoral rolls could lose welfare benefits such as ration cards.
“The Election Commission has never said that ration cards or government benefits would be withdrawn if names are missing from the electoral roll. Why is the Chief Minister making such statements? It appears to be an attempt to create confusion and derail the SIR process,” he alleged.
Referring to criticism from the Congress against the Election Commission, Joshi defended the constitutional body and said the current system for appointing Election Commissioners had been strengthened through judicial oversight.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the ECI was an independent constitutional institution and maintained that the NDA leaders had submitted documentary evidence to support their allegations.
“We have submitted a detailed complaint along with pen drives containing evidence of the irregularities that have taken place over the past week. The Chief Electoral Officer informed us that he has already conveyed these developments to the Election Commission of India,” Kumaraswamy said.
According to him, the Election Commission had already deputed officials to examine the complaints.
He alleged that state officials had ignored the Election Commission’s guidelines while conducting the SIR exercise under pressure from the state government.
“The guidelines issued by the Election Commission have been thrown to the wind. Officials are acting to please the state government,” he alleged.
Kumaraswamy also accused the Congress of adopting double standards on electoral roll revisions.
“Congress leaders have criticised the SIR process in other states. I want to ask what they are doing in Karnataka. For the past three days, complaints have been submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer, and today we have once again presented evidence,” he said.
Alleging misuse of official machinery, Kumaraswamy said the state government was attempting to influence officials and derail the electoral roll revision process.
“The Chief Minister is merely making political statements while we are producing evidence. There is no issue with the Election Commission. The problem lies with the state government, which is misusing its authority and arm-twisting officials to derail the SIR exercise,” he alleged.
–IANS
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