SIR row: Congress hits back at BJP, denies scope for manipulation

A day after the BJP alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Narasimharaja Assembly constituency in Mysuru was being carried out in violation of the Election Commission’s guidelines and demanded that the exercise be conducted under Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) supervision, the Congress on Sunday (July 5) accused the BJP of misleading the public and creating unnecessary confusion over the process.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshmana said the BJP’s allegations were baseless and argued that the SIR exercise could not be manipulated merely because enumeration forms were being filled at designated public locations instead of being distributed door-to-door, as alleged by the BJP.

“How can the process be manipulated simply because the forms are being filled at one place?” he asked.

Mr. Lakshmana said the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) was to assist voters in filling the forms, and they were only discharging their official responsibilities. “What is wrong if BLOs help voters complete the forms?” he questioned.

He dismissed the allegations made by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mysuru MP, that the revision exercise was not being conducted according to the rules because forms were being filled at public places where several voters had gathered.

Mr. Lakshmana alleged that the SIR exercise in States such as West Bengal and Bihar had “benefited” the BJP and claimed that the party was attempting to replicate the same “strategy” in Karnataka. He alleged that the names of many traditional Congress supporters had been deleted from the electoral rolls in States where the exercise had already been completed.

“The Congress has always ensured that the names of genuine voters are included in the electoral rolls during revision exercises in the past. The BJP, however, is trying to get the names of Congress supporters deleted during SIR,” he alleged.

Claiming that Karnataka was the BJP’s next political target, Mr. Lakshmana accused the party of creating unnecessary controversy over the electoral roll revision for political reasons.