ECI's SIR voter enrolment order a 'victory for all voters', says Karnataka CM Shivakumar
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar is claiming credit for a fresh ECI directive ordering a special drive to re-enrol voters missed in the SIR — and using it to level a pointed accusation: that the BJP deliberately filed around 25,000 applications to delete Dalit and minority votes. The Election Commission has now also ordered inquiry into bulk deletion complaints, raising the stakes well beyond a routine roll revision.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India has directed states and UTs where SIR is complete to hold a special drive enrolling left-out and first-time eligible voters.
Shivakumar called the order a 'victory for voters across the country,' crediting Congress -led protests outside the Karnataka CEO's office on Thursday.
The ECI also directed authorities to examine complaints about bulk deletion applications and ensure correct use of Forms 6 and 7 .
Shivakumar alleged that BJP representatives submitted around 25,000 applications seeking deletion of votes of Dalit and minority voters — an allegation the BJP contests.
Anbukumar has directed action against applicants found to have knowingly submitted false information, subject to inquiry.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 's campaign against electoral roll irregularities was credited by Shivakumar as a key factor in the developments.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday, 2 October welcomed the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s directive to state election authorities to conduct a special drive identifying and enrolling eligible voters left out after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), calling it a 'victory for voters across the country.' The ECI order follows protests led by Shivakumar and Congress leaders outside the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer's office in Bengaluru on Thursday.
What the ECI Has Directed
The Election Commission of India has instructed poll officials in states and Union Territories where the SIR has been completed to undertake a special enrolment drive for left-out and first-time eligible voters. Authorities have been asked to facilitate registration through the regular electoral roll updation process. Additionally, the ECI has directed electoral authorities to examine complaints regarding bulk deletion applications and ensure that Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Chief Electoral Officers, and District Election Officers strictly follow prescribed procedures for Forms 6 and 7. Special booth-level camps are also to be organised for vulnerable groups, including those living in night shelters, labourers, and homeless persons.
Shivakumar's Remarks and Allegations Against BJP
Speaking to reporters near Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar described the ECI's order as 'not just a victory for the Congress and the government' but 'a victory for Karnataka and the voters of the entire country, and a victory against attempts to deprive eligible voters of their rights.' He credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's campaign against alleged electoral roll irregularities as a contributing factor to the development.
Shivakumar also levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that BJP representatives had submitted bulk applications seeking deletion of votes belonging to weaker sections of society. 'It is shameful. Their intention is to create a divide among communities, castes and religions. Their objective is to get Dalit and minority votes deleted,' he alleged. He further accused BJP leaders of 'admitting to a criminal conspiracy' after they acknowledged submitting around 25,000 such applications, and demanded that appropriate action be taken against those responsible.
The Controversy Over Bulk Form-7 Applications
The ECI's intervention comes amid escalating controversy over bulk Form-7 deletion applications in Karnataka. On Thursday, following Shivakumar's protest, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found to have knowingly furnished false information, subject to a prescribed inquiry process. Shivakumar noted that citizen groups and activists had independently travelled across the state, collected data, and submitted reports on alleged irregularities — information he said he had personally examined in part.
What Happens Next
The ECI has separately announced special enrolment measures for voters excluded during the SIR and for young and first-time eligible electors. Shivakumar stressed that protecting voting rights — which he linked to the constitutional right to live with dignity — was his core responsibility as Chief Minister. He also urged the media to amplify the issue and called for a national-level discussion on safeguarding voters' rights. With allegations of deliberate voter roll manipulation now formally escalated, attention shifts to how quickly authorities conclude inquiry proceedings and whether the controversy influences electoral dynamics in Karnataka ahead of future polls.
Point of View
With the '25,000 deletion applications' figure as the centrepiece. The allegation of targeted Dalit and minority voter deletion is explosive, and if inquiry proceedings confirm deliberate false submissions, the fallout could extend far beyond Karnataka. What mainstream coverage is missing is the structural question: why did the SIR process leave significant gaps in the first place, and what safeguards will prevent this from recurring before the next election cycle?
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ECI's order on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The Election Commission of India has directed poll authorities in states and Union Territories where the SIR has been completed to conduct a special drive to identify and enrol eligible voters who were left out, including first-time voters. It has also instructed authorities to facilitate regular electoral roll updation and examine complaints about bulk deletion applications.
Why is Karnataka CM Shivakumar calling this a 'victory'?
Shivakumar claims the ECI's directive followed directly from a Congress-led protest he organised outside the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer's office on Thursday. He described the order as a vindication of his party's campaign against alleged electoral roll irregularities and attributed it in part to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's national-level advocacy on voter rights.
What are the allegations against the BJP over Form-7 applications?
Shivakumar has alleged that BJP representatives submitted around 25,000 bulk Form-7 applications to delete the votes of Dalit and minority voters — an act he described as a 'criminal conspiracy.' He demanded action against those responsible. The BJP has not denied submitting applications but disputes the framing of intent.
Who is affected by the ECI's special enrolment drive?
The drive is aimed at eligible voters who were missed during the SIR process, as well as young and first-time eligible electors. Special camps are to be organised for vulnerable groups including those in night shelters, daily labourers, and homeless individuals.
What action has the Karnataka CEO taken on false deletion applications?
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar on Thursday directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found to have knowingly furnished false information in Form-7 deletion requests, subject to a prescribed inquiry process.
