Bengaluru: The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka has triggered a major political controversy, since the Congress government alleges large-scale irregularities and misuse of the voter verification process. Escalating its attack, a BJP delegation led by state president BY Vijayendra on July 3 submitted a detailed complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, alleging widespread violations of Election Commission guidelines and demanding immediate intervention.
The party claimed that the voter list revision exercise, which is intended to ensure accuracy and transparency in electoral rolls, is instead being manipulated at several locations across the state. BJP leaders alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were not carrying out mandatory door-to-door verification and were instead conducting the exercise collectively at public places, allegedly under political influence.
The controversy has intensified over the past few days after several senior BJP and JD(S) leaders released videos purportedly showing irregularities in the implementation of the SIR process. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy first raised the issue by sharing video clips, following which Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also released videos alleging violations of Election Commission norms in different parts of Karnataka.
ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಎಸ್ಐಆರ್ ಅಕ್ರಮಗಳ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗವು ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುವಂತೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ @BYVijayendra ಅವರ ನೇತೃತ್ವದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ನಿಯೋಗವು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯುಕ್ತರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಮನವಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿತು.
ನಿಯೋಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಸಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಸ್. ಸುರೇಶ್ ಕುಮಾರ್,… pic.twitter.com/uScOOJxisU
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 4, 2026
Opposition leaders have alleged that voter verification camps are being organised at community halls, mosques and other public places instead of officials visiting every household as prescribed under the Election Commission’s guidelines. They have further claimed that the process is being misused to facilitate the inclusion of illegal voters in the electoral rolls, allegations that have triggered a sharp political confrontation in the state.
After submitting the memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer, B.Y. Vijayendra told reporters that the Special Intensive Revision was not being conducted in the spirit intended by the Election Commission of India.
“The Election Commission initiated the SIR process with good intentions to ensure clean electoral rolls. Unfortunately, the Karnataka government has completely diluted the process by misusing Booth Level Officers. Instead of conducting house-to-house verification, officials are being made to sit in choultries, mosques and government offices to complete the exercise collectively,” Vijayendra alleged.
He further accused Congress legislators of exerting pressure on election officials.
“There is clear misuse of government machinery. Congress MLAs are allegedly influencing BLOs, and the entire process is being compromised. Wherever violations have occurred, the voter verification exercise must be conducted afresh. We have submitted documentary evidence before the Chief Electoral Officer seeking corrective action,” he said.
Vijayendra also claimed that in certain locations, voter-related forms allegedly contained photographs of Congress leaders, raising questions over the neutrality of the process. He alleged that community centres and religious institutions were being used to carry out collective enrolment activities in violation of Election Commission norms.
ರಾಜ್ಯ ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗದ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಆಯುಕ್ತರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿ ಮಾಡಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಎಸ್ಐಆರ್ ಅಕ್ರಮಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮತ್ತು ಶಾಸಕರು ಒತ್ತಡ ಹೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಚುನಾವಣಾ ಆಯೋಗ ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿ, ಅಕ್ರಮ ನಡೆದಿರುವ ಕಡೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗ ನಡೆದಿರುವ ದತ್ತಾಂಶ ಸಂಗ್ರಹವನ್ನು ರದ್ದುಪಡಿಸಿ,… pic.twitter.com/LUJQQhvOJW
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) July 4, 2026
Meanwhile, the controversy has gained further significance after administrative action was initiated in Kolar district. Acting on media reports highlighting procedural lapses, Kolar Deputy Commissioner M.R. Ravi issued notices to several officials, including the Tahsildar, Assistant Commissioner, supervisory officers and five Booth Level Officers, over alleged violations in the implementation of the SIR process.
According to officials, the notices were issued after it was found that BLOs attached to polling booth numbers 185 to 189 had allegedly gathered voters at a single location and completed the revision process collectively instead of conducting mandatory door-to-door verification.
The Election Commission’s guidelines require Booth Level Officers to personally visit every household, verify the identity and residence of eligible voters, and ensure that additions, deletions and corrections are carried out only after physical verification.
State Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar had recently reiterated these instructions and directed all District Election Officers to strictly ensure house-to-house verification during the ongoing revision exercise.
Similar allegations have also surfaced from Mysuru district. Residents in the N.R. Assembly constituency have reportedly objected to BLOs conducting the verification exercise at public locations instead of visiting individual homes. Local residents have urged election authorities to strictly enforce Election Commission guidelines to maintain transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
While the BJP has demanded a fresh SIR exercise in areas where alleged violations have occurred, election authorities are expected to examine the complaints and determine whether further action is required. The allegations have added a new political dimension to the ongoing voter list revision, with both the administrative response and the Election Commission’s next steps likely to remain under close scrutiny in the coming days.
