A file photo of MLA Abhay Patil.
| Photo Credit: BADIGER PK
The Election Commission of India officers in charge of Special Intensive Revision have rejected the demand for scrutiny and deletion of around 2,598 votes sought by BJP leader and MLA Abhay Patil in Belagavi North constituency.
M. Karthik, Belagavi city corporation commissioner and the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) has replied to the MLA’s letter, saying that there was no legal provision for bulk scrutiny or deletion of votes under the SIR process.
He has, however, clarified that Booth Level Agents (BLAs) could file objections to the inclusion of doubtful electors through the concerned Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
In a letter dated September 19, Mr. Patil had alleged that the BLAs from his constituency had detected over 2,598 bogus voters. He had given details of the number of suspect voters along with their part numbers and booth numbers.
B.K. Hariprasad, MLC and KPCC chairman, had objected to this, saying Mr. Patil had no locus standi in sending a letter to SIR officials seeking bulk deletion of voters. He alleged that the BJP MLA was targetting Muslim voters only to help his cause in the next elections.
‘Not seeking bulk deletion’
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi on Friday (September 25, 2026), Mr. Patil said that he had not sought bulk deletion of voters.
“I have not asked for deletion of names of any elector. I am only asking SIR officers to conduct an inquiry, look into allegations of inclusion of bogus voters, scrutinise the Forms 6 and 7 submitted by suspect voters and delete their names if found false. I am not only a MLA, but also the Booth Level Agent number 1 for my constituency. I have a right to do so. I also have a responsibility towards ensuring clean elections and a duty to express solidarity with BLA 2 and my other associates who have gone door-to-door to trace bogus voters,’’ he said.
Mr Patil said that Deepak Patil, the BLA 2, and his team, had found some false voters and filed objections through Form 7 to the respective BLOs. “But the BLOs had not acted on those objections. I wrote the letter only to remind them of their duties. Along with my letter, I have submitted a proof of all objections filed by the BLAs in my constituency,’’ he said.
Mr. Patil also denied Mr. Hariprasad’s allegations. “I know the rules well. I am a four-term MLA and I am only exercising my right.” He said that he would appeal to the ECI if his objections were not considered by local SIR officers.
Published – September 25, 2026 06:29 pm IST
