BJP-JD(S) seek FIR withdrawal over Form-7 voter deletions in Karnataka
Synopsis
A BJP-JD(S) delegation stormed the Jayanagar police station demanding withdrawal of an FIR against party workers over Form-7 voter deletion applications — while a separate FIR in Madikeri names five BJP booth workers for allegedly seeking deletion of 64 voters' names. Karnataka's ongoing Special Intensive Revision has become a battleground over who is targeting whom on the electoral rolls.
Key Takeaways
BJP – JD(S) delegation led by Jayanagar MLA C.K.
Ramamurthy visited Jayanagar police station on 7 October demanding withdrawal of an FIR against party workers.
Workers allegedly submitted Form-7 applications to flag fake and duplicate voter entries; the BJP says the FIR is politically motivated.
The delegation alleged that confidential applications were improperly shared with Congress workers.
A separate FIR at Shanivarasante Police Station, Madikeri names five BJP booth-level workers for allegedly seeking deletion of 64 voters' names in Byadagutta village .
The BJP and JD(S) have threatened an intensified agitation if the Jayanagar FIR is not withdrawn.
The dispute is part of a broader controversy in Karnataka over Form-7 misuse during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)–Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) delegation led by BJP Bengaluru South district president and Jayanagar MLA C.K. Ramamurthy on Wednesday, 7 October marched to the Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru, demanding the immediate withdrawal of a First Information Report (FIR) filed against BJP workers over Form-7 voter verification submissions. The protest adds fresh intensity to a widening controversy in Karnataka over the alleged misuse of Form-7 during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What the Delegation Alleged
Ramamurthy, accompanied by Govindarajanagar constituency leader and district vice-president Umesh Shetty, Bengaluru South district JD(S) president Krishna, and several party workers, met station officials and submitted a formal memorandum. The leaders maintained that their workers had legally submitted Form-7 applications to flag allegedly fake and duplicate entries in the Jayanagar constituency's voter rolls — a process permitted under election commission rules.
The delegation charged that these applications were subsequently distorted for political motives and that a false FIR was lodged against BJP workers. They further alleged that applications meant to remain confidential were instead handed over to Congress workers by election or police authorities — a claim that, if substantiated, would raise serious procedural questions.
The Madikeri FIR: A Parallel Case
Separately, police at Shanivarasante Police Station in Madikeri district have registered an FIR against five individuals following a complaint by G.M. Safvaan. The accused — identified as BJP booth-level workers Lokesh, Rajini, Nagaraj, Basavaraj, and Savitha Malali — allegedly submitted Form-7 applications seeking the deletion of 64 voters' names from the rolls in Byadagutta village, Madikeri district. Police are currently investigating the allegations.
The Form-7 Controversy in Karnataka
Form-7, under election commission guidelines, allows any citizen to apply for the deletion of a voter's name from the electoral roll — typically on grounds such as death, permanent relocation, or duplicate registration. The SIR process currently under way in Karnataka has become a flashpoint, with political parties trading allegations over bulk deletion requests. Critics argue that submitting Form-7 applications en masse against rival communities is a tactic to systematically disenfranchise voters, while those filing the applications maintain they are exercising a legitimate statutory right.
This is not the first time Karnataka's electoral roll revision process has triggered inter-party conflict. Similar controversies have erupted during past SIR exercises, though the scale of the current dispute — spanning at least two districts — marks a notable escalation.
What BJP and JD(S) Have Warned
The BJP–JD(S) delegation made clear that the FIR withdrawal demand is non-negotiable at this stage. Leaders warned that if the case against their workers is not dropped, the two parties will launch an intensified agitation across the region in the coming days. The warning signals that the dispute is likely to spill beyond police stations into street protests and potentially the legislature.
What Happens Next
Police in both Jayanagar and Madikeri are understood to be reviewing the FIRs and investigating the underlying complaints. The Election Commission of India's role in overseeing the SIR process and its handling of confidentiality protocols around Form-7 submissions is expected to come under scrutiny. With the agitation threat now on record, the Karnataka government and election authorities face pressure to clarify the procedural chain that led to the FIRs — and to address the allegation that confidential voter-deletion applications were shared with a rival political party.
Point of View
It would indicate a serious institutional failure, not merely political one-upmanship. Conversely, the Madikeri FIR — naming five booth-level workers for targeting 64 specific voters — suggests the deletion attempts were granular and deliberate, not administrative errors. The Election Commission's silence so far is conspicuous; its credibility in overseeing the SIR rests on how it handles both the confidentiality lapse allegation and the deletion-misuse complaint with equal rigour.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Form-7 controversy in Karnataka?
Form-7 is an Election Commission form that allows citizens to apply for deletion of a voter's name from electoral rolls on valid grounds. A controversy has erupted in Karnataka during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of rolls, with parties alleging that rival groups are misusing bulk Form-7 submissions to delete legitimate voters and thereby manipulate the electorate.
Why have BJP workers been named in an FIR?
In Jayanagar, an FIR was registered against BJP workers in connection with Form-7 voter verification submissions; the BJP contests the case as politically motivated and false. Separately, in Madikeri, five BJP booth-level workers were named in an FIR after a complaint alleged they sought deletion of 64 voters' names in Byadagutta village during the SIR exercise.
What action did the BJP-JD(S) delegation take?
The delegation, led by Jayanagar MLA C.K. Ramamurthy, visited the Jayanagar police station on 7 October, staged a protest, and submitted a memorandum demanding the FIR be withdrawn immediately. They also warned of an intensified agitation if authorities do not comply.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter rolls by adding new eligible voters and removing names that no longer qualify — such as deceased persons, those who have relocated, or duplicate entries. Form-7 is the mechanism through which deletion requests are filed during this process.
What happens if the FIR is not withdrawn?
The BJP and JD(S) have threatened to escalate their protest into an 'intensified agitation' across the region. Both FIRs remain active and under police investigation, meaning the accused workers could face further legal proceedings if the complaints are substantiated.
