DK Shivakumar’s Form 7 Protest Puts Karnataka Voter Roll Dispute in Focus

The DK Shivakumar Form 7 protest has brought Karnataka’s electoral-roll revision process into the spotlight, with the Chief Minister alleging that applications were filed in bulk to seek deletion of eligible voters. Shivakumar led ministers and Congress legislators in a sit-in at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru and sought an investigation into the filings.

The protest came during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Form 7 is used to raise an objection to the inclusion or deletion of a name from an existing electoral roll.

Shivakumar seeks probe into bulk filings

Shivakumar submitted a memorandum seeking an impartial and time-bound investigation into alleged bulk submissions, particularly during September 22-24.

He cited large numbers of applications in several constituencies, including Belagavi North, Mudigere, Babaleshwar, Narasimha Raja and Bhalki. He also raised concerns about applications where voter names and Election Photo Identity Card details appeared to have been pre-printed before objector details were added.

The Chief Minister sought constituency-wise and booth-wise verification of the applications, including identifying people who submitted unusually large numbers of forms and examining how voter information was obtained.

He also asked officials to investigate any possible involvement of political functionaries and take criminal action if violations were established.

Election officials order verification

The sit-in lasted around five hours and ended after Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer directed election officials to investigate complaints involving false claims and objections.

Officials were instructed to verify complaints before taking legal action and ensure that genuine voters were not removed from the electoral rolls. The directions also cover knowingly false submissions involving voter registration and related forms.

Shivakumar had demanded an FIR and said he would continue the protest until action was initiated.

The dispute has also triggered allegations from opposing political sides over irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process. BJP state president BY Vijayendra rejected Shivakumar’s allegations and accused him of staging a political demonstration.

The controversy comes as Karnataka’s SIR process continues and places the focus on how objections to voter entries are being submitted and verified.

For now, the allegations of organised or politically motivated voter deletions remain subject to investigation. The election authorities’ verification process will determine whether individual Form 7 applications involved false claims or other violations.

Relevant link: Election Commission of India