Karnataka SIR: Bommai demands suspension of Tehsildars, BLOs over electoral roll irregularities
Synopsis
Basavaraj Bommai has levelled pointed allegations against the Karnataka government, claiming BLOs and tahsildars are preparing electoral rolls inside mosques and Kalyana Mantapas instead of conducting door-to-door verification — and that video evidence has been submitted yet the practice continues. The demand for mass suspensions puts the state's election machinery directly in the spotlight ahead of future polls.
Key Takeaways
Basavaraj Bommai alleged large-scale irregularities in Karnataka's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on 4 July in Gadag .
He claimed BLOs and election staff were preparing rolls inside the Dodda Devara Mosque at Booth No.
191, Bankapur instead of conducting house-to-house verification.
Bommai alleged duplicate entries were being created by altering dates of birth and family member names.
He demanded immediate suspension of tahsildars and BLOs involved, and formation of surprise inspection squads in every district.
The Deputy Commissioners of Gadag and Haveri districts were held directly responsible for the lapses.
Bommai alleged district officials were functioning under ministerial pressure and feared transfers, undermining independent oversight.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday, 4 July alleged that large-scale irregularities were being carried out in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the state, attributing the lapses to direct interference by the state government. Addressing reporters in Gadag, Bommai demanded the immediate suspension of all officials allegedly involved and their replacement with fresh officers.
Key Allegations
Bommai claimed that tahsildars, village accountants, teachers, and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were participating in the alleged irregularities under pressure and inducements from the ruling state government. He specifically cited Booth No. 191 in Bankapur under the Shiggaon Assembly constituency, where, he alleged, BLOs and election staff were preparing electoral rolls inside the Dodda Devara Mosque instead of conducting mandatory house-to-house verification.
'We have already submitted a complaint along with video evidence. Despite that, they continue to carry out the same activities without any fear,' Bommai alleged.
Duplicate Entries and Document Manipulation
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader further alleged that duplicate entries were being inserted into the electoral rolls by registering the same individual multiple times. 'Even after mapping, duplicate names continue to remain in the rolls. Such irregularities are being carried out by changing the date of birth or the father's or husband's name,' he claimed. He argued that centralised document-scanning at mosques and Kalyana Mantapas — rather than door-to-door verification — made it easier to exclude eligible voters and manipulate records.
Demands and Election Commission Appeal
Bommai urged the Election Commission of India to suspend the tahsildars and other officials allegedly involved and constitute special inspection squads in every district to conduct surprise checks. He also called on the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka to treat the matter with urgency. He held the Deputy Commissioners of Gadag and Haveri districts directly responsible for the lapses.
'Officials and staff who are violating the prescribed rules and engaging in irregular practices should be suspended immediately,' he demanded.
Pressure on District Administration
Bommai alleged that Deputy Commissioners were unable to function independently because they operated under pressure from ministers and feared transfers. He warned that the situation amounted to a threat to democratic rights. 'When discrepancies are found even in the electoral records of senior political leaders, one can imagine the situation of ordinary citizens. If officials fail to discharge their responsibilities honestly, it will undermine the very spirit of democracy,' he said.
The Election Commission's prescribed procedure, Bommai noted, requires BLOs to visit every household and verify official documents — including voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards, or ration cards — before updating the rolls. He maintained that bypassing this process directly encouraged irregularities. The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka had not issued a public response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
Point of View
Backed by claimed video evidence, are serious enough to warrant an independent inquiry — yet the timing, ahead of future electoral cycles, invites scrutiny of political motivation on both sides. The core procedural concern is legitimate: if BLOs are conducting centralised document-scanning rather than door-to-door verification, the integrity of the rolls is genuinely at risk regardless of who is in power. What is conspicuously absent is any response from the Chief Electoral Officer or the state government, which leaves the allegations uncontested in the public domain. The Election Commission's credibility depends on how swiftly it acts on the video evidence Bommai claims to have already submitted.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update, verify, and clean up voter rolls by adding eligible new voters and removing ineligible or duplicate entries. It requires Booth Level Officers to conduct door-to-door verification using official identity documents.
What specific irregularities has Basavaraj Bommai alleged?
Bommai alleged that BLOs and election staff were preparing electoral rolls inside the Dodda Devara Mosque at Booth No. 191 in Bankapur, Shiggaon constituency, instead of visiting households. He also alleged duplicate entries were being created by altering dates of birth or names of family members.
What action has Bommai demanded from the Election Commission?
Bommai has demanded the immediate suspension of all tahsildars and BLOs allegedly involved in the irregularities, their replacement with fresh officers, and the formation of special surprise-inspection squads in every district across Karnataka.
Who does Bommai hold responsible for the lapses?
Bommai has held the Deputy Commissioners of Gadag and Haveri districts directly responsible. He also alleged that district officials were functioning under pressure from ministers and the state government, which he said was preventing independent functioning.
Has any evidence been submitted to authorities?
According to Bommai, a formal complaint along with video evidence was already submitted to the relevant authorities before his press address on 4 July. He alleged that the irregularities continued despite this submission.
