Published Jul 06, 2026 | 5:24 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 06, 2026 | 5:32 PM
The Opposition BJP in Karnataka has turned SIR into its main weapon against the Congress government.
Synopsis: The BJP and JD(S) have sought a probe alleging that Congress-leaning BLOs manipulated Karnataka’s SIR by verifying voters at mosques and adding illegal migrants. The Congress termed the charges “baseless” and blamed what it called “WhatsApp misinformation”. The ECI hasn’t responded yet.
The BJP and its allies have intensified their attack on the Congress government over Karnataka’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging political interference in a process the party has defended nationally.
The SIR, announced nationwide on 27 October 2025, aims to remove deceased, duplicate and non-citizen voters from electoral rolls. The Supreme Court upheld its legality on 27 May 2026.
Karnataka began the exercise on 30 June, which will continue until 29 July. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar launched the drive by submitting his verification form and urging citizens to participate.
In Karnataka, where the BJP is in the opposition has turned the same exercise into its main weapon against the Congress government, accusing the administration of subverting it for political gain.
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The political confrontation began on 3 July when the BJP and JD(S) alleged that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were bypassing mandatory door-to-door verification by processing forms collectively at mosques and community halls.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka alleged that the Congress was attempting to include “20 lakh to 25 lakh Bangladeshis” in the electoral rolls, while Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra claimed officials were “being made to sit inside mosques” to conduct the exercise and sought a fresh verification wherever procedures had been violated.
The dispute escalated on 6 July when senior NDA leaders, including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Shobha Karandlaje, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, opposition leaders Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, jointly submitted a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar.
They sought an inquiry into the alleged violations, mandatory door-to-door re-verification of all forms and action against officials found responsible.
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Speaking to South First, BJP state general secretary Ravi Kumar alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was “under the influence of the Congress” and claimed that Congress leaders in the Chamarajpet and Ramanagara constituencies were interfering in the SIR process by conducting BLO-related activities inside mosques to “appease minority voters.”
“BLOs are typically drawn from state government staff rather than ECI personnel, which is why the allegation is directed at the ruling government rather than the ECI. The ECI is therefore being petitioned to investigate rather than being accused,” he said.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the ECI, and further action will depend on its response,” Kumar added.
Congress denied the allegations. State Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the revision would be carried out strictly in accordance with the Constitution and that any proven procedural lapses by BLOs would invite disciplinary action after examination by the ECI.
Echoing the Congress’s stand, Sowmya Reddy, secretary of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) and the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), called the BJP’s claims “baseless and misleading.”
She alleged that the BJP was making such statements out of fear of losing minority votes. She maintained that the SIR was being conducted strictly according to ECI norms without political interference and dismissed the mosque-related allegations as “fake WhatsApp forwards” meant to spread misinformation.
The Election Commission has not yet responded to the NDA’s charges. With the 29 July deadline approaching, the NDA has stepped up its campaign against the Congress government’s handling of the revision, while the Congress said the exercise is transparent and any irregularities will be addressed.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
