The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, 4 July submitted a formal memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, alleging serious procedural irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding immediate intervention by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to protect the integrity of the voter verification exercise.

Who Submitted the Memorandum

The memorandum was submitted by Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, senior MLA S. Suresh Kumar, and other senior party leaders. The submission marks a formal escalation of the party's concerns over what it describes as systemic deviations from the ECI's prescribed procedures.

Key Allegations Against the SIR Process

The BJP alleged that the SIR exercise across Karnataka has witnessed severe procedural deviations, raising concerns among elected representatives, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), party workers, and members of the public over the transparency, consistency, and credibility of the revision process.

A central complaint concerns the simultaneous running of the statewide SIR alongside a parallel electoral revision process covering 27 wards under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). According to the memorandum, this dual exercise has created confusion among electors, BLOs, political representatives, and field officials regarding the applicable verification methodology and the authority responsible for implementation.

The party further alleged that the ECI's mandatory house-to-house verification process was being diluted in several locations through centralised camps held in community halls and other public venues. The BJP argued that such camp-based verification defeats the purpose of an intensive revision, as it prevents proper confirmation of an elector's ordinary place of residence — increasing the risk of erroneous inclusions and omissions in the rolls.

The memorandum also alleged that BLOs were being sidelined and denied the opportunity to discharge their statutory responsibilities independently, with state administrative machinery reportedly adopting procedures that undermine the sanctity of the SIR exercise.

Specific Locations Cited

The BJP claimed that in several locations the SIR process was being conducted in mosques, community centres, Kalyana Mandapas, and at the offices and residences of MLAs, rather than at designated locations. The memorandum stated that details of alleged irregularities in the Yeshwanthpur and K.R. Puram Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru, along with supporting photographs and video evidence, were enclosed for verification and necessary action.

Constitutional Grounds and Demands

Citing Article 324 of the Constitution, the BJP argued that the ECI has a constitutional obligation to ensure that electoral roll revision remains transparent, impartial, verifiable, equitable, and free from executive interference. The party also raised concerns about the potential enrolment of ineligible persons — including, it alleged, illegal immigrants and non-citizens — in violation of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Among its key demands, the BJP urged the ECI to institute an immediate inquiry into the SIR's implementation across Karnataka, ascertain whether mandatory house-to-house verification by BLOs was being replaced by camp-based verification, and ensure no ineligible individual is entered in the electoral rolls. The party also sought the deployment of independent observers and binding directions to all electoral authorities to strictly follow the ECI's prescribed procedures.

What Happens Next

The CEO's office is yet to formally respond to the memorandum. The BJP has called for corrective action before the revision exercise concludes, warning that any large-scale deviation from prescribed procedures warrants immediate examination. The outcome of this complaint could have implications for the credibility of voter rolls ahead of upcoming local body elections in Bengaluru.