BJP, JD(S) seek action over alleged SIR irregularities

Bengaluru: Union ministers and BJP-JDS leaders from Karnataka met Chief Electoral Officer Anbu Kumar on Monday, demanding legal action against officials and political functionaries allegedly responsible for irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.The NDA delegation alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were not conducting the mandatory door-to-door verification prescribed under SIR guidelines. Instead, they claimed, enumeration forms were being filled at community halls, mosques and even at the residences of BLOs, while WhatsApp groups were being used to ask voters to visit these locations to complete the process. Calling these practices a serious violation of the guidelines, the delegation sought an immediate inquiry, re-verification of all enumeration forms through mandatory door-to-door visits, and strict legal action against those responsibleUnion ministers Prahlad Joshi, H. D. Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje met the CEO along with BJP and JD(S) MLAs and MLCs, including Arvind Bellad, C. T. Ravi, C. N. Ashwath Narayan, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and Bhojegowda. BJP state president B. Y. Vijayendra was not part of the delegation.In a memorandum submitted to the

Election Commission

, the signatories — excluding Vijayendra — expressed “serious concern over massive irregularities” in the SIR exercise in Karnataka.Referring to the SIR guidelines, the delegation said Booth Level Officers, under the supervision of the District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner), are required to conduct mandatory door-to-door verification and personally verify the identity of every eligible voter in each household.The delegation said complaints had been received from several parts of the state and that photographs and videos circulating on social media, as well as reports in the mainstream media, pointed to widespread deviations from the prescribed procedure.

According to the memorandum, such practices compromise the neutrality and secular character of the electoral process and risk creating an unreliable electoral roll.The NDA leaders urged the Election Commission to order an immediate inquiry and ensure re-verification of all enumeration forms through mandatory door-to-door verification. “Strict legal action must be initiated against all officials and political functionaries found responsible for these irregularities,” the memorandum stated.