SIR row: KPCC chief alleges BJP MLA sought deletion of 2,500 Belagavi voters
Synopsis
KPCC chief B.K. Hariprasad has accused BJP MLA Abhay Patil of writing to authorities seeking bulk deletion of 2,500 minority voters in Belagavi, producing documents and citing an Election Commission letter that reportedly flagged the applications as irregular. The Congress is now demanding arrests and has threatened a formal complaint to the ECI — turning a local electoral-roll row into a major political flashpoint in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
Hariprasad alleged on 24 September 2026 that BJP MLA Abhay Patil sought deletion of 2,500 voters' names in Belagavi , targeting the minority community.
Applications reportedly filed under Form 7 sought deletion of around 7,000 names in total, many allegedly without signatures.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) reportedly responded that it could not remove names in the manner sought and warned that bogus applications are punishable.
Hariprasad demanded arrests of those who filed the irregular applications and said the Congress would file a formal complaint with the ECI.
The Congress also accused the BJP and RSS of misusing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to disenfranchise voters opposed to the ruling party at the Centre.
Abhay Patil represents the Belagavi South Assembly constituency; the BJP had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Thursday, 24 September 2026, alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Abhay Patil had written to authorities seeking deletion of the names of 2,500 voters in Belagavi, claiming those targeted belonged to the minority community. Hariprasad made the allegations at a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, producing documents he said supported the charges.
What Hariprasad Alleged
The KPCC chief claimed that applications had been filed under Form 7 — the statutory form for seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls — targeting voters in bulk. He alleged that applications were submitted seeking deletion of around 7,000 names in total, and that many of those applications did not carry signatures. Hariprasad also alleged that some applications sought deletion of 50 voters registered at a single address.
He produced what he described as a letter written by MLA Abhay Patil to authorities seeking bulk deletion of voters' names. 'Who gave him the authority to write a letter seeking deletion of other people's votes? The MLA has written for bulk deletion, allegedly going beyond the law,' Hariprasad said.
What the Election Commission Said
According to Hariprasad, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had itself responded to the applications, stating that it could not remove voters' names in the manner being sought. He quoted the Commission's position: 'The Election Commission has written a letter in this regard, saying that it cannot remove voters' names in this manner... The Election Commission has also said that submitting a bogus application is punishable.'
This, Hariprasad argued, amounted to an official acknowledgement that the applications were irregular.
Congress Demands Arrests, Plans EC Complaint
Hariprasad demanded that those who submitted the Form 7 applications be arrested and prosecuted. 'I demand that those who have submitted Form 7 applications for deleting names from the electoral rolls be arrested and legal action be taken against them,' he said. He added that the Congress would submit a formal complaint to the Election Commission on the matter.
He also alleged that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was not being conducted properly, and accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of attempting to deprive voters opposed to the BJP of their franchise.
Broader Political Context
Hariprasad further escalated the charge, linking the Belagavi episode to what he described as a national pattern. 'This is a small example of the alleged attempt by Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove 13 crore votes from the electoral rolls. Their workers and supporters are doing this work, and everyone should remain alert,' he alleged. These are, notably, allegations made by a political leader — independent verification of the claim is pending.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing electoral-roll revision exercise in Karnataka, during which multiple political parties have flagged concerns over the inclusion and deletion of names from voter lists. Abhay Patil represents the Belagavi South Assembly constituency for the BJP. As of the time of reporting, neither Patil nor the BJP had publicly responded to the allegations.
With the Congress signalling a formal complaint to the Election Commission, the controversy is likely to intensify scrutiny of the SIR process in Karnataka in the days ahead.
Point of View
With the SIR process becoming a political battleground well before any election is announced. Hariprasad's move to produce documents — including what he claims is an ECI letter flagging the applications as irregular — shifts this from allegation to potential legal territory, and the Election Commission will face pressure to act or explain its silence. What mainstream coverage risks missing is the structural vulnerability here: Form 7, designed as a safeguard against bogus entries, can itself be weaponised for targeted disenfranchisement if bulk applications go unchecked. The BJP has yet to respond, and until it does, the political cost of silence is accumulating.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MLA Abhay Patil allegedly do in Belagavi?
According to KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad, BJP MLA Abhay Patil wrote to authorities seeking the bulk deletion of 2,500 voters' names from the electoral rolls in Belagavi, allegedly targeting minority community voters. Hariprasad claims to have documentary evidence, including the letter attributed to Patil.
What is Form 7 and why is it controversial here?
Form 7 is the official statutory form used to apply for deletion of a name from the electoral rolls, typically used to remove deceased or relocated voters. It is controversial in this case because Hariprasad alleges the form was used to file bulk, unsigned applications targeting up to 7,000 voters — which the Election Commission reportedly flagged as irregular and punishable.
What did the Election Commission say about the applications?
According to Hariprasad, the Election Commission wrote a letter stating it could not remove voters' names in the manner being sought, and warned that submitting a bogus Form 7 application is a punishable offence. The authenticity and contents of this letter have not been independently verified.
What action is the Congress demanding?
The Congress has demanded the arrest and prosecution of all those who filed the allegedly irregular Form 7 applications. KPCC President Hariprasad also announced that the party would submit a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India over the matter.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a periodic exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update electoral rolls — adding new eligible voters and removing those no longer eligible. In Karnataka, the ongoing SIR has become politically contentious, with multiple parties raising concerns about both improper deletions and additions of names.
