Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, 26 September 2026, launched a frontal attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of being a 'partner in vote theft' alongside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demanding that the President dissolve the poll body and cancel the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The remarks, made at a protest rally in Bengaluru, mark one of the most direct challenges to the constitutional authority of the ECI by a sitting Chief Minister in recent memory.

Key Allegations at the Protest Rally

Addressing a demonstration organised by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) at Freedom Park in Bengaluru, Shivakumar alleged that the Commission had abandoned its constitutional mandate and was selectively targeting poor voters and citizens critical of the government. He said, 'The Election Commission has become a puppet of the BJP. The names of poor voters and those who criticise the administration are being targeted. They have become partners in vote theft along with the BJP.'

He further called for the arrest of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and demanded the cancellation of elections he alleged were conducted illegally. In a pointed remark directed at Kumar, Shivakumar said, 'You are not the Chief Election Commissioner, but the Chief Selection Commissioner.'

The SIR Exercise Under Fire

Shivakumar cited figures to bolster his allegations, claiming that Karnataka has a population of around seven crore, of whom 5.54 crore are registered voters. He alleged that the SIR exercise had reduced the number of registered voters to 4.46 crore, with notices reportedly issued to 30–40 lakh people. He specifically referenced the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency, claiming Congress candidate Mansoor Khan had lost the election by a margin of 31,000 votes and questioned BJP leaders over what he described as the deletion of 12 lakh votes through the SIR process. He also alleged that three lakh votes had gone missing in Mahadevapura and that 12 lakh votes had been misused — claims that remain unverified and unacknowledged by the Election Commission.

Shivakumar demanded the SIR exercise be scrapped entirely and replaced with a fresh, transparent revision process. He added that the alleged irregularities were eroding public confidence in democracy.

Internal ECI Divisions and Parliament Demand

The Chief Minister also referred to reported differences within the Election Commission, alleging that members appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'acted on their conscience' and opposed decisions taken by the CEC — an assertion he framed as evidence of internal dissent against Kumar's leadership. He called on the Union government to convene Parliament early and hold a debate on the matter, warning that 'the obsession with power will not last forever.'

Notably, this protest comes amid a broader national campaign that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have reportedly launched from Karnataka against alleged vote theft. Shivakumar called on party leaders, including booth-level agents, to take the campaign to every village.

What Happens Next

Shivakumar announced that the Karnataka government plans to hold local body elections in November–December using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines — a significant logistical and political signal. He vowed that Congress would continue its campaign for electoral transparency. The Election Commission has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations made at Saturday's rally. All claims made by Shivakumar regarding voter deletions and electoral irregularities are, as yet, unverified by independent authorities.