BJP urges ECI to stop Karnataka SEC's parallel SIR in 27 Bengaluru wards
Synopsis
The BJP has formally asked the ECI to shut down a parallel voter-roll revision quietly launched by the Karnataka State Election Commission in 27 Bengaluru wards — just days before the ECI's own nationwide SIR is set to begin. The complaint raises a pointed constitutional question: can a state election body override a statutory ECI exercise already in motion?
Key Takeaways
BJP on 25 June urged the ECI to invoke Article 324 and stop the Karnataka SEC's independent SIR in 27 GBA wards .
The complaint was submitted to Chief Electoral Officer V.
Anbu Kumar by a delegation led by Chalavadi Narayanaswamy .
The Karnataka SEC reportedly ordered its own SIR on 19 June , freezing ward rolls as of 18 April 2026 for wards in Gandhinagar and Mahadevapura constituencies.
The ECI's Phase-III statewide SIR across 16 states is scheduled to begin on 30 June ; Karnataka's Assembly rolls were frozen on 16 June .
BJP cited Sections 13B and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 , arguing only ECI-designated officers can revise electoral rolls.
The party warned the dual exercise would waste public funds and create confusion for voters verified by two different authorities within days.
The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 25 June formally urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to invoke its Constitutional authority under Article 324 and direct the Karnataka State Election Commission (SEC) to immediately halt an independent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise it has launched across 27 wards of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The BJP contends the parallel exercise conflicts with an ECI-mandated statewide SIR already in progress and risks creating confusion among voters.
The Complaint and Who Filed It
A BJP delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, submitted the complaint to Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar and forwarded a copy directly to the ECI, seeking urgent intervention. The party described the SEC's initiative as a 'parallel, unauthorised and conflicting' revision process and called for its immediate suspension.
The BJP also requested that any grievances, findings, or recommendations identified by the State Election Commission be folded into the ECI's statewide SIR process — scheduled to commence on 30 June — to ensure administrative uniformity, fiscal responsibility, and voter clarity.
What the ECI Has Already Mandated
Through an official notification, the ECI has directed Phase-III of a comprehensive SIR exercise across 16 states, including Karnataka. As part of this exercise, electoral rolls for Assembly constituencies in Karnataka were frozen on 16 June to preserve data integrity during the revision period.
The BJP argues that this nationwide exercise provides the only legally sanctioned framework for voter roll revision currently in effect, citing Sections 13B and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which vest the authority to register, include, or delete names from electoral rolls solely with Electoral Registration Officers designated by the ECI.
What the Karnataka SEC Did
Despite the ongoing nationwide SIR, the Karnataka SEC reportedly issued an order on 19 June directing an independent revision exercise based on complaints received from local political parties. According to the BJP's complaint, the SEC froze ward-level electoral rolls as of 18 April 2026 for 27 wards falling under the Gandhinagar and Mahadevapura Assembly constituencies, and planned to commence field operations from 26 June.
The BJP alleged that the SEC lacks the legal mandate to conduct such a parallel process while the ECI's statutory exercise is already underway, and that any mechanism undertaken without the ECI's explicit concurrence could compromise the uniformity, integrity, and legal sanctity of the electoral process.
Why the BJP Says It Matters
The party warned that launching a localised field revision under the SEC from 26 June, followed by the ECI's house-to-house enumeration from 30 June, would result in the same voters being verified by two separate authorities within days of each other. This, the BJP argued, could generate uncertainty and panic among citizens.
The complaint also flagged the financial dimension: deploying separate teams of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and administrative personnel to the same households within a short span would amount to a waste of public funds, government resources, and administrative manpower.
What Happens Next
The ECI is yet to respond publicly to the BJP's complaint. The Karnataka SEC has not issued a counter-statement as of the time of this report. With the SEC's field operations reportedly set to begin on 26 June and the ECI's statewide SIR commencing on 30 June, the window for resolution is narrow. The outcome could set a precedent for how jurisdictional conflicts between state and national election bodies are handled during concurrent revision exercises.
Point of View
The Karnataka SEC's parallel exercise is on uncertain ground. What the complaint does not address is why the SEC initiated the exercise in the first place — local parties had apparently flagged grievances that the ECI's statewide process had not resolved. The real governance failure here may be the absence of a clear protocol for how state election bodies should escalate roll-related complaints during an active ECI revision cycle. Until that gap is filled, turf disputes like this one will keep recurring.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJP objecting to the Karnataka SEC's SIR in Bengaluru?
The BJP argues that the Karnataka SEC's independent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 27 GBA wards is a parallel, unauthorised exercise that conflicts with the ECI's own Phase-III statewide SIR already underway. The party contends it could confuse voters, waste public funds, and undermine the legal sanctity of the electoral roll revision process.
What is the ECI's Phase-III SIR and when does it begin?
The ECI's Phase-III SIR is a comprehensive voter roll revision exercise covering 16 states, including Karnataka, with field operations scheduled to begin on 30 June. Karnataka's Assembly constituency electoral rolls were frozen on 16 June as part of this exercise to maintain data integrity.
What did the Karnataka SEC do that triggered the complaint?
The Karnataka SEC reportedly issued an order on 19 June directing an independent SIR based on complaints from local political parties. It froze ward-level electoral rolls as of 18 April 2026 for 27 wards in the Gandhinagar and Mahadevapura Assembly constituencies and planned to begin field operations from 26 June.
What legal provisions does the BJP cite in its complaint?
The BJP cited Sections 13B and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which vest the authority to register, include, or delete names from electoral rolls solely with Electoral Registration Officers designated by the ECI. The party also invoked Article 324 of the Constitution, urging the ECI to exercise its supervisory powers over the SEC.
Who led the BJP delegation that filed the complaint?
The delegation was led by Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council. The complaint was submitted to Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar, with a copy forwarded to the ECI for immediate action.
