Karnataka CEO: No voter deletions under Form 7 yet, notices mandatory before action
Synopsis
Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer has pushed back against a mounting political firestorm, confirming that not a single voter name has been deleted under Form 7 despite 91,278 objection applications — while also acknowledging that FIRs have been filed over alleged bulk form submissions by BJP leaders, with those cases now sub judice.
Key Takeaways
Anbukumar confirmed on 5 October 2026 that no voter names have been deleted under Form 7 applications so far.
A total of 91,278 Form 7 deletion applications have been received; each requires a mandatory notice and ERO inquiry before action.
FIRs have been registered over alleged bulk submission of Form 7 applications by BJP leaders; cases are sub judice.
Out of 43,82,313 SIR notices generated, 99.4 per cent have been served; hearings for all pending cases to conclude by 12 October .
The final electoral roll will be published on 27 October , followed by a special enrolment drive for unregistered eligible voters.
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukumar on Monday, 5 October 2026, categorically stated that no voter names have been removed from the state's electoral rolls on the basis of Form 7 applications so far, and assured that every voter would receive a formal notice and undergo an inquiry before any deletion is effected. The clarification came amid escalating allegations by the state Congress government that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) are orchestrating a coordinated drive to erase the names of voters from minority communities and oppressed classes.
What Anbukumar Said
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Anbukumar confirmed that 91,278 Form 7 applications seeking name deletions have been received to date. He stressed, however, that receipt of an application does not translate into automatic deletion. Every objection, he explained, triggers a mandatory notice to the concerned voter, followed by a hearing before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) before any decision is taken.
'So far, no names have been deleted under Form 7. The concerned voter will first be issued a notice and only after an inquiry will a decision be taken,' Anbukumar said.
He also clarified the submission limits: an objector may submit up to 10 forms per day and a maximum of 50 forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Any excess beyond that threshold triggers an automatic ERO inquiry. The ERO, he emphasised, is an independent officer whose decisions cannot be directed by the CEO's office.
The Bulk Form Controversy
Responding to Congress allegations that BJP leaders had printed and submitted Form 7 applications in bulk, Anbukumar confirmed that FIRs have been registered in connection with such incidents. He declined to elaborate, noting that the cases are currently sub judice. He added that if false forms were found to have been submitted, appropriate action could and would be taken.
This comes amid a politically charged backdrop in Karnataka, where the Congress government has been vocal about what it describes as a systematic attempt to disenfranchise vulnerable communities ahead of future elections. The BJP and JD-S have denied the allegations.
SIR Process: Where It Stands
Anbukumar provided a detailed update on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process. A total of 43,82,313 notices have been generated across the state. Of these, 43,55,818 notices — or 99.4 per cent — have been served on electors, while 26,495 notices remain pending service. Hearings have been completed for 36,89,063 notices, representing approximately 85 per cent of those served; hearings for the remaining 6,66,755 notices are still pending. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting home visits and all remaining hearings are expected to be completed before 12 October.
The draft electoral roll was published on 24 August, with the claims and objections window running from 24 August to 23 September. Disposal of claims based on notices will continue until 21 October. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on 27 October.
Claims and Objections at a Glance
Under the broader claims and objections process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has received approximately 22.5 lakh forms from Karnataka. These comprise 9.10 lakh Form 6 applications (new enrolments), 97,200 Form 7 applications (objections/deletions), and 11.98 lakh Form 8 applications (corrections). Applications received up to 23 September will be disposed of in accordance with the law.
Notably, the ECI has also issued a circular mandating a special enrolment drive after the SIR process concludes. This drive, targeting eligible voters who have not yet registered, will commence after 27 October, with dates and details to be announced after 15 October.
Assurance to Voters
Anbukumar sought to reassure citizens that no eligible voter would face injustice. 'If any eligible voter is left out, their name will be added again. We will conduct a special awareness campaign in this regard,' he said. He urged all eligible individuals whose names are absent from the rolls to submit Form 6 for enrolment. The CEO reiterated that EROs have been thoroughly briefed on the legal framework and will act independently.
With the final electoral roll due on 27 October and a special enrolment drive to follow, the coming weeks will determine whether Karnataka's revision exercise withstands the political scrutiny it has attracted.
Point of View
But they do not fully neutralise the political charge. The fact that FIRs have already been filed over alleged bulk Form 7 submissions — and that the CEO himself declined to comment on grounds of sub judice — signals that the process has been gamed, or at least plausibly so. Karnataka's Congress government has a political incentive to amplify these allegations ahead of local body elections, and the BJP has an incentive to deny them; neither framing serves the voter. What matters is whether the ERO layer — theoretically independent — holds under pressure. India's history of electoral roll manipulation is long enough that 91,278 deletion applications in a single state, under a contested political climate, warrants close scrutiny from the Election Commission of India, not just process reassurances.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any voter names been deleted from Karnataka's electoral rolls under Form 7?
No. Karnataka CEO V. Anbukumar confirmed on 5 October 2026 that no voter names have been deleted under Form 7 applications so far. Every objection must be followed by a formal notice to the concerned voter and an inquiry by the Electoral Registration Officer before any deletion can occur.
What is Form 7 and how does it work?
Form 7 is an Election Commission of India form used to object to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll or to request its deletion. Once an application is received, the concerned voter is issued a notice and an inquiry is conducted by the Electoral Registration Officer before any decision is made.
What are the allegations against BJP and JD-S in Karnataka?
The state Congress government has alleged that BJP and JD-S leaders conspired to submit Form 7 applications in bulk to remove voters from minority communities and oppressed classes from the electoral rolls. FIRs have been registered in connection with the alleged bulk submission of forms; those cases are currently sub judice.
When will Karnataka's final electoral roll be published?
The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on 27 October 2026. Disposal of claims and objections will continue until 21 October, and all remaining SIR hearings are to be completed before 12 October.
What should voters do if their name is missing from the Karnataka electoral roll?
Eligible voters whose names do not appear on the electoral roll should submit Form 6 for enrolment. The Election Commission of India will also conduct a special enrolment drive after 27 October 2026, with dates to be announced after 15 October.
