Published Oct 03, 2026 | 7:27 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2026 | 7:27 PM
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge.
Synopsis: The Karnataka Home Minister said over 1.08 crore individuals have been excluded from the state’s voter rolls. He added that an additional 43.8 lakh individuals currently listed have been served notices over alleged “logical discrepancies.” He alleged that BJP leaders are executing mass deletions.
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been turned into a “Sangh Intensive Revision” aimed at purging Scheduled Caste and minority voters from voter lists with the tacit knowledge of the Election Commission of India, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge alleged on Saturday, 3 October.
Kharge also launched a broadside against the BJP and RSS for acting as the Election Commission’s spokesperson.
He stated that despite the state government extending complete institutional and promotional support to electoral authorities, the exercise was being conducted with “mala fide intention.”
“We have very categorically supported the State Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka in every endeavour required to ensure complete transparency in the SIR. We even issued advertisements alongside them to educate people on the process,” Kharge said.
“Despite that, all of this is happening with mala fide intentions and with the complete knowledge of the Election Commission of India.”
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Highlighting the scale of exclusion, Kharge pointed out that over 1.08 crore individuals have found themselves excluded from the voter rolls in Karnataka. He added that an additional 43.8 lakh individuals currently listed have been served notices over alleged “logical discrepancies.”
”Now BJP leaders are executing mass deletions under this cover. Is this purification according to the BJP?” Kharge asked. “This is not a Special Intensive Revision; this is a Sangh Intensive Revision orchestrated by the RSS. How is it that only Scheduled Caste and minority votes are being deleted?” he questioned.
Kharge also questioned the BJP’s objection to the Congress delegation’s visit to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer. He also asked why the BJP was acting like a spokesperson for the Election Commission of India.
“How does it concern them if we have gone to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office? How does it concern them if we have a problem with the Election Commission of India? If they have a problem, they will complain,” he said, while asked which rule had the Congress delegation flouted.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
