Congress alleges SIR targets 1 crore+ Karnataka voters for deletion
Synopsis
Congress has fired its sharpest salvo yet at the SIR process in Karnataka, alleging that over one crore eligible voters — nearly 20 per cent of the state's electorate — are being systematically purged to benefit the BJP. With an ECI that has not publicly responded and a High Court challenge on the table, the fight over Karnataka's voter rolls is turning into a full-blown political crisis.
Key Takeaways
KPCC MLC Ramesh Babu alleged on 6 August that the SIR process risks deleting nearly 20 per cent of Karnataka's 5.40 crore voters.
Congress claims more than one crore voters have already been excluded without proper BLO visits or enumeration form distribution.
Around one lakh voters in Bengaluru's K.R.
Puram constituency were reportedly marked absent under the process.
The party has demanded a one-month extension for enumeration form submissions and threatened High Court action.
Senior BJP leaders — including R.
Vijayendra , and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi — were accused of backing the ECI's conduct.
The Election Commission of India has not publicly responded to multiple Congress representations as of the press conference.
The Indian National Congress in Karnataka on Thursday, 6 August alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is being weaponised to strike off eligible voters, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a systematic attempt to disenfranchise Congress supporters ahead of future elections.
Key Allegations at the Press Conference
KPCC Media and Communications Department Chairman and MLC Ramesh Babu addressed reporters in Bengaluru, stating that the party has already filed multiple representations with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the issue. Citing figures attributed to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar, Ramesh Babu claimed that nearly 20 per cent of the state's 5.40 crore registered voters are at risk of being dropped from the rolls — up from 15 per cent the previous week.
'Every vote deleted in Karnataka is the direct responsibility of the BJP. The SIR exercise is not merely an electoral roll revision. It is an attempt to remove Congress supporters from the voters' list,' he alleged.
Grounds for Deletion and Process Concerns
According to Ramesh Babu, voters are being flagged for deletion on grounds of absence, death, multiple enrolments, or change of address. He alleged that names are being struck off without Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visiting households or distributing enumeration forms. As a specific example, he claimed that around one lakh voters in Bengaluru's K.R. Puram Assembly constituency alone had been marked as absent through this process.
'More than one crore voters have been excluded in this manner,' he claimed. He also questioned the ECI's assertion that 97.7 per cent of enumeration forms had been distributed, asking how voters could still be treated as absent if that figure were accurate. He alleged that forms had not reached residents who had moved or whose details did not match the 2002 electoral rolls.
Congress Government's Response and BJP Counter
Ramesh Babu defended the Congress-led Karnataka government's decision to issue residence certificates to eligible voters, describing it as a protective measure for voting rights. He alleged that the BJP had criticised this initiative despite its intent to safeguard enfranchisement.
He also named senior BJP figures — Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi — accusing them of defending the ECI's conduct during the SIR exercise. 'The Election Commission is functioning like a puppet of the BJP,' he alleged.
Demands and Next Steps
The Congress has urged the Election Commission of India to intervene, extend the enumeration form submission deadline by one month, and prevent the deletion of 20 per cent of the state's voters. Ramesh Babu warned that the party may challenge the process before the High Court if its demands are not met.
He also alleged that officials had promised voter assistance centres at every polling booth but had not followed through. The ECI has not publicly responded to the Congress representations as of the time of the press conference. KPCC Graduates' Cell President Nataraj Gowda and former Bengaluru Mayor Ramachandrappa were also present at the event.
This is the latest in a series of political flashpoints over the SIR process in Karnataka, with the outcome likely to shape the electoral landscape ahead of the next state and national polls.
Point of View
But the underlying procedural questions deserve scrutiny independent of party interest. If Booth Level Officers are indeed marking voters absent without household visits, that is a process failure — not merely a partisan grievance. The ECI's silence on multiple representations is itself a governance concern: an institution whose credibility rests on perceived neutrality cannot afford to appear unresponsive. Karnataka's 2023 Assembly election saw Congress win on roughly 43 per cent of the vote; any large-scale voter deletion in the state carries outsized political stakes for both sides, making independent verification of the deletion figures essential before the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update and clean up voter rolls by identifying and removing entries of deceased, absent, duplicate, or relocated voters. In Karnataka, Congress alleges the process is being misused to drop eligible voters, particularly those believed to support the party.
How many voters does Congress claim are at risk of deletion in Karnataka?
Congress claims that more than one crore voters in Karnataka are at risk of being removed from the electoral rolls. KPCC MLC Ramesh Babu cited figures suggesting nearly 20 per cent of the state's 5.40 crore registered voters could be deleted — up from 15 per cent the previous week, according to his allegations.
What specific process violations has Congress alleged?
Congress has alleged that Booth Level Officers are marking voters as absent without physically visiting households or distributing enumeration forms. The party also questioned the Election Commission's claim that 97.7 per cent of forms had been distributed, arguing the figures are inconsistent with the scale of reported absences.
What action has Congress demanded from the Election Commission?
The party has demanded that the Election Commission of India extend the deadline for submission of enumeration forms by one month and halt the deletion of 20 per cent of Karnataka's voters. Congress has also warned it may challenge the SIR process before the High Court if the ECI does not act.
How has the BJP responded to Congress's allegations?
According to Congress, senior BJP leaders including Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi have defended the Election Commission's actions during the SIR exercise. The BJP has not issued a formal public rebuttal to the specific allegations as reported.
