SIR in Karnataka: Door-to-door enumeration begins from Chief Minister’s home; D.K. Shivakumar urges voters to complete exercise

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:06:00 +0000

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday (June 30, 2026) launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka by filling up and submitting his Enumeration Form at his Sadashivanagar residence, while appealing to citizens across the State to participate in the exercise and safeguard their voting rights.

Mr. Shivakumar and his wife, Usha Shivakumar, completed the forms in the presence of Bengaluru South Deputy Commissioner and district election officials.

Later speaking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the SIR process had formally begun in the State and urged voters to ensure that their details in the electoral rolls were up to date.

He said electors would have to furnish the mobile number that had been previously linked to their voter records. Those wishing to change or update their phone number can do so through election officials, after which the one-time password (OTP) would be sent to the registered number.

Request all people of Karnataka to fill SIR enumeration form and retain their voter list: Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar

Update name and photograph

Mr. Shivakumar said the exercise also provided an opportunity for voters to correct their names and update photographs in the electoral rolls.

He said Booth Level Agents (BLAs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and supervisory officials had already established WhatsApp groups to assist voters during the process.

Stating that the procedure had been simplified for families, the Chief Minister said it would be sufficient if one member of a household signed the forms on behalf of all family members. “One member can fill up and submit the forms for the entire family and they will be accepted,” he said.

Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar said the SIR exercise provides an opportunity for voters to correct their names and update photographs in the electoral rolls.
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Documentation

Referring to the documentation required for first-time voters, Mr. Shivakumar said new electors would have to produce proof of residence. He added that the State government had made arrangements to facilitate the issuance of residence certificates and other required documents so that eligible citizens were not inconvenienced while completing the verification process.

The Chief Minister urged people not to neglect the exercise. “Everyone should safeguard their voting rights. If they fail to do so, they may find it difficult to access government schemes and services in future,” he said.

Difficulty in filling forms

When asked about the concern that some people, particularly the elderly and those unfamiliar with smartphones, might face difficulties using the ECINet application, Mr. Shivakumar admitted that he too had taken assistance while completing the online process.

“I am also not familiar with using the app. I took the help of others. Those who are not comfortable with the online process can obtain the form from the Booth Level Officer and complete it offline,” he said.

Link to benefits

Asked about the significance of the SIR exercise in Karnataka, the Chief Minister referred to developments in some other States, where, he claimed, certain welfare benefits were being linked to voter status.

“Our guarantees are meant for the people of Karnataka. Why should benefits meant for Karnataka be extended to voters from other States? Our intention is that these benefits should reach only the residents and voters of Karnataka,” he said.

What Karnataka voters need to know about SIR: CEO explains

Published – June 30, 2026 01:42 pm IST

Source link

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah holds closed-door meeting on SIR; issue to come up before Cabinet

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:14:00 +0000

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Shortly after the announcement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Karnataka, the issue is expected to come up before the State Cabinet on May 21. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday in this regard. This will be the first time that the Congress government in Karnataka is formally discussing the SIR and its implications at the Cabinet level.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, IT/BT, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, Tourism and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil and MLA A.S. Ponnanna.

Ministers said the discussions centred on how the SIR exercise has unfolded in other States, allegations of mass disenfranchisement linked to the process, the legality of the exercise, and what role the State government can play to ensure that the exercise remains inclusive rather than exclusionary.

What legal basis?

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Kharge said the issue would be raised in the Cabinet and maintained that while the government was not opposed to any form of electoral revision, the “special” revision lacked a legal basis. He said that despite claims that the exercise is inclusive, developments in other states suggested otherwise.

“Discrepancies, logical discrepancies — what do these terms even mean? We are not against revision, but citizenship and voting rights cannot hinge on simple errors. We have also seen how Forms 6 and 7 are misused during the claims and objections stage,” he said. He added that the government would discuss what steps could be taken to ensure the exercise “remains only a revision.”

“For someone who has been voting for years, a single spelling mistake or minor errors cannot decide citizenship. If there is an error, the solution is to allow correction,” Mr. Ponnanna said.

He argued that there was no clear legal basis for “logical discrepancies” and the category invites arbitrary deletions and disenfranchisement. “There cannot be a perceived notion about voters based on which lines are drawn on who stays and who goes. Dead and duplicate voters should certainly be identified, but the exercise has no authority to declare an elector as a foreign national,” he said.

State’s options

Ministers said the meeting also discussed what options were available to the government politically and legally, and to what extent the State could intervene or respond to the SIR process.

Published – May 20, 2026 09:53 pm IST