Karnataka Congress SIR strategy meet: Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar to lead Bengaluru session
Synopsis
Karnataka Congress called a rare resort-level strategy session to navigate the SIR electoral roll revision — not to oppose it, but to control it from the ground up. With SIR camps planned at every booth and BLA members deployed for door-to-door verification, the party is treating the exercise as an organisational test as much as a political one.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Congress held a brainstorming session on 25 May at a private resort near Bengaluru to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The meeting was led by CM Siddaramaiah , Deputy CM D.K.
Shivakumar , and AICC leader Randeep Surjewala .
Congress chose a strategy of cautious participation over outright opposition to the Election Commission's SIR process.
The party plans to set up SIR camps at every polling booth and deploy BLA1 and BLA2 members for door-to-door voter verification.
The SIR exercise is scheduled to begin in Karnataka in June .
The Karnataka Congress convened a high-level brainstorming session on Sunday, 25 May at a private resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru to deliberate on the party's political and legal response to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The meeting, scheduled for 4 pm, was led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Randeep Surjewala.
Who Attended and Why It Was Called
The gathering brought together a broad cross-section of the party — ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), candidates from the 2023 Assembly elections, contestants from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, former legislators, Members of Parliament, and district presidents. According to party sources, the primary purpose was to sensitise senior leaders and issue clear organisational instructions on the party's course of action during the SIR process.
Congress Strategy: Cautious Participation, Not Confrontation
Party leaders indicated ahead of the meeting that outright opposition to the Election Commission's SIR exercise — or a stance of complete non-cooperation — was unlikely to serve the party's political interests. Instead, the Congress is expected to adopt a calibrated approach: participating in the process while maintaining close vigilance over its conduct.
'As a political party, Congress believes it must cooperate with SIR while remaining alert and cautious,' party leaders said ahead of the session. The leadership stressed that protecting citizens' voting rights remains a central priority for the party.
Booth-Level Mobilisation at the Core
A key pillar of the Congress strategy involves strengthening its booth-level apparatus. Party sources said the Congress plans to establish SIR camps at every polling booth and closely supervise the process until its conclusion. BLA2 members — working in coordination with government-appointed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) — will conduct door-to-door visits and personally verify voter details in their respective booths.
The party leadership also underscored the critical role of both BLA1 and BLA2 members during the exercise, and has directed workers to spread awareness among the public and the cadre regarding the SIR process and their responsibilities within it.
What Happens Next
The SIR is scheduled to formally commence in Karnataka in June. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, and other senior Congress leaders were expected to issue key directions and organisational guidelines during the evening meeting. This comes amid broader political sensitivity around electoral roll revisions, which parties across the spectrum view as having direct implications for voter composition and future electoral outcomes.
Point of View
But it carries its own risks. Electoral roll revisions have historically been flashpoints for allegations of voter deletion, and by embedding itself at the booth level, the party is essentially deputising its own cadre as watchdogs — a move that signals deep distrust of the process even as it publicly endorses cooperation. The real question is whether Karnataka's Congress machinery, which won decisively in 2023, is organised enough at the micro-level to monitor thousands of booths simultaneously. If it is not, the party's caution could become a liability rather than a safeguard.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SIR process that Karnataka Congress is meeting about?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission of India exercise to update and verify electoral rolls. It is scheduled to begin in Karnataka in June, and involves door-to-door verification of voter details by Booth Level Officers and party-appointed representatives.
Why did Karnataka Congress hold this meeting?
The meeting was convened to deliberate on the party's political and legal response to the SIR process, issue organisational instructions to leaders, and coordinate booth-level monitoring. Party sources said it was primarily aimed at sensitising senior leaders about the exercise.
What strategy is Karnataka Congress adopting on SIR?
The party has opted for cautious participation rather than opposition or non-cooperation. It plans to set up SIR camps at every polling booth and deploy BLA1 and BLA2 members for door-to-door voter verification alongside government-appointed BLOs.
Who led the Karnataka Congress SIR strategy meeting?
The meeting was led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and senior AICC leader Randeep Surjewala, with ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs, and district presidents also in attendance.
When will the SIR begin in Karnataka?
The Special Intensive Revision is scheduled to commence in Karnataka in June, according to party sources who cited the timeline during discussions ahead of the Bengaluru meeting.
