BENGALURU: The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday asked Karnataka’s chief electoral officer to probe what it described as widespread violations of Election Commission procedures during the ongoing audit of electoral rolls in the state, alleging that officials had abandoned mandatory house-to-house verification and were instead processing voter forms at central locations.
A delegation comprising Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and senior leaders of the BJP and JD(S) lodged a formal complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Anbukumar.
They demanded an immediate investigation, fresh verification of all census forms through mandatory house-to-house visits and legal action against officials and political functionaries found responsible for any violations.
The complaint focuses on the special intensive review of electoral rolls in Karnataka, which began the house-to-house census phase on June 30 and will continue until July 29.
“We write to express our grave concern over gross irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) process of electoral rolls in Karnataka. The officials who are supposed to conduct the SIR are showing no interest in the approved process, undermining the very spirit of democracy,” the delegation said in its letter.
The leaders said the Election Commission guidelines require booth-level officials, working under district election officials, to visit every household and personally verify the identity of the household members and complete the census process through direct field verification.
Instead, forms were filled in community halls, mosques and officers’ residences at cabin level, they claimed. They also claimed that WhatsApp groups were created to direct residents to these locations for the audit exercise.
According to the complaint, similar injustices have emerged in several parts of Karnataka. The delegation said that videos circulating on social media and reports published by major media outlets showed a departure from the stipulated procedure.
“Such a practice is in violation of the established guidelines of the SIR and raises serious concerns regarding the neutrality and secular character of the electoral process. The SIR is conducted to enhance the integrity of the electoral rolls, but the manner in which the BLOs conduct this practice is contrary to the fundamental purpose of the audit,” the letter said.
The delegation argued that failure to conduct mandatory house-to-house verification could lead to what it described as an “unsustainable and unreliable” electoral roll, adding that “no deviation from the procedures prescribed by the Election Commission of India is permitted.”
In recent days, the NDA also accused the Congress government of facilitating the inclusion of illegal immigrants through mass registration camps. It posted videos that it said showed census camps operating instead of house-to-house visits, and alleged that government officials were being used to water down the review process.
Chief Electoral Officer Anbukumar last week directed election officials to ensure that booth-level officials distribute census forms through house-to-house visits as per Election Commission guidelines.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday rejected the allegations and said the state government would not interfere in the review process.
“The government will not interfere in the SIR process. The Opposition is concerned as the government is creating awareness about the process on such a large scale. About 4.5 crore people have received caste and income certificates. They have been given facilities to download these certificates online. The Opposition only wants the poor and minorities to face difficulties,” Shivakumar said.
Responding to the opposition’s allegations about illegal immigrants, he said: “Tell us where the Bangladeshi immigrants are. If they are there, why didn’t your government take any action when it was in power? Let them criticize as much as they want. Criticism fades, but good work remains.”
Shivakumar said the review process aims to ensure eligible citizens are able to vote, and urged the opposition to support these efforts.
He said: “We are ensuring that everyone gets the right to vote. The opposition should appreciate the work we have done. I have also instructed our party workers to remain alert. The opposition only talks about criticism.”
