The State unit president of the BJP in Karnataka, B.Y. Vijayendra, has challenged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to provide evidence for his allegations regarding the misuse of Form-7 applications to remove eligible voters from electoral rolls. Mr. Vijayendra stated on October 2 that if the Chief Minister cannot prove these claims, he should resign.
Mr. Shivakumar had previously staged a protest on October 1, alleging a conspiracy to remove voters, particularly from minority and backward communities, using ‘pre-filled’ Form-7 applications. He called for an investigation and criminal action against those responsible.
Responding to the protest, Mr. Vijayendra described it as a ‘staged drama’ and accused the Congress government of shifting blame. He questioned the Chief Minister’s allegations, pointing out that the Booth Level Officers are under the control of the state government. Mr. Vijayendra also claimed that only 25,000 Form 7 applications were filed, contradicting the Chief Minister’s assertion of lakhs of voters being at risk.
Mr. Vijayendra further argued that Form-7 is a legitimate tool provided by the Election Commission for removing ineligible entries. He cited examples in Mysuru and Bengaluru constituencies, alleging irregularities in voter enrollment, including people from other states and neighboring constituencies appearing on the rolls, particularly in areas with significant minority populations. He also claimed that individuals from Kerala had enrolled in BJP-dominated constituencies in Dakshina Kannada.
Source: thehindu.com
