Karnataka CEO Denies Voter Deletions Amid Conspiracy Allegations

Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar announced that no voters have been removed from Karnataka's electoral rolls despite the submission of 91,278 Form 7 applications seeking deletions. This confirmation follows a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) where over 43.5 lakh notices were delivered to electors in anomaly and no-mapping categories. Anbukkumar stated that deletions require formal inquiries and hearings, with a final disposal deadline of October 22.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) of a criminal conspiracy to manipulate the rolls. Shivakumar alleged that opposition workers submitted forms falsely listing living persons as dead and subsequently snatched and burnt over 100,000 applications from Booth Level Officers to avoid legal repercussions after FIRs were registered. He demanded an investigation into the source of the pre-filled forms.

BJP leaders rejected the allegations, arguing that bulk submissions of Form 7 applications are not prohibited and that verification is the responsibility of election officials. Anbukkumar has since directed electoral registration officers to take legal action against any applicants who knowingly provided false statements. The hearing process is expected to conclude by October 13, after which final rolls will be provided to seven political parties.