The ruling Congress and the Opposition continued to spar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra accusing the State government of “facilitating violations” and Home Minister Priyank Kharge asserting that the State government was neither framing the rules nor directing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on how to conduct the exercise.
Speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Karnataka, Mr. Vijayendra alleged that the State government was misusing the administrative machinery and undermining the objective of the SIR exercise. He urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to order corrective measures.
He claimed that instead of carrying out the mandatory door-to-door distribution of Enumeration Forms, BLOs were being made to distribute forms from community halls, choultries, mosques and other public places.
Mr. Vijayendra also alleged that in some constituencies, MLAs were making BLOs work from their offices instead of allowing them to independently conduct the verification exercise.
“We have brought to the Commission’s notice that legislators are exerting pressure on officials. Wherever such irregularities have occurred, the SIR exercise should be conducted afresh,” he said.
Parallel electoral revision
The BJP leader reiterated the party’s earlier objection to what it described as a “parallel electoral revision exercise” being undertaken by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), alongside the Election Commission’s statewide SIR. He alleged that the simultaneous exercises were creating confusion among voters.
“Our demand is that the SIR exercise be repeated in all areas where violations were established,” he said.
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Kharge said it was the Election Commission’s responsibility to address concerns surrounding SIR. Any procedural violations should be examined and acted upon by the Election Commission, he said.
“We have not instructed anyone to conduct the exercise from community halls or offices. BLOs work under the Commission’s directions,” he said.
Unanswered 12 questions
The Minister said the Congress had raised 12 questions with the Election Commission regarding the SIR process but had not received a response.
“There is genuine anxiety and confusion among people, especially Scheduled Castes, minorities and backward classes. It is for the Election Commission to clear these doubts. We did not frame the rules,” he said.
“We are not against the SIR. Our only demand is that it should be conducted transparently. The responsibility for ensuring that rests with the Election Commission,” he said.
Published – July 05, 2026 12:53 am IST
