Karnataka Congress launches SIR electoral roll awareness drive in Devanahalli
Synopsis
KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar took the Congress's electoral roll protection drive to Devanahalli on 25 May, warning party officials of dismissal if they skipped campaign meetings. The move signals that Karnataka Congress views the SIR process as a serious threat to its voter base — and is mobilising at the booth level to counter it.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar led the 'Congress Nade, Mata Rakshane Kade' march in Devanahalli on 25 May 2025 .
The drive aims to spread awareness about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, not stage protests against it.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are distributing enumeration forms that voters must complete and submit with documents.
Shivakumar warned that party officials and office-bearers absent from campaign meetings will be removed from their positions .
The KPCC plans to train party workers at the booth level and extend the campaign to other districts.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, 25 May led the 'Congress Nade, Mata Rakshane Kade' (Congress March for Protection of Votes) programme in Devanahalli, calling for collective action to safeguard citizens' voting rights amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Speaking to reporters after the march, Shivakumar said no citizen should be stripped of their franchise during the revision exercise.
What the Campaign Is About
The drive centres on the SIR process, under which Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are distributing enumeration forms that voters must fill out and submit with the required documents. Shivakumar stressed that the exercise is not a 'mapping process' — a misconception he said must be dispelled. 'Everyone must get rid of the notion that this is a mapping process. The enumeration forms issued by BLOs must be completed and submitted to election officers, along with the required documents. Our workers will be trained for this purpose,' he said.
What Shivakumar Said
'No one should lose their right to vote. We must provide people with proper documents and safeguard their votes,' Shivakumar told reporters. He also urged BLOs to set aside political differences: 'BLOs must set aside party differences and cooperate in properly protecting everyone's right to vote.' The KPCC chief clarified that the party's approach would be awareness-led rather than confrontational — 'Rather than protesting against the SIR, we will focus on spreading awareness about it,' he said.
Disciplinary Action Warned
Shivakumar did not limit his remarks to voters. He warned that party office-bearers and officials who skipped the campaign meeting would face disciplinary action. 'We have instructed ministers and MLAs to set aside all other work and focus on this task,' he said, adding that those absent from the meeting would be removed from their positions. The directive signals the KPCC's intent to treat electoral roll protection as a top organisational priority ahead of future elections.
Broader Context
The SIR has drawn attention across several states, with opposition parties raising concerns about potential deletions from voter lists. This comes amid a wider national debate over the integrity of electoral rolls, particularly regarding the deletion of names belonging to marginalised communities. In Karnataka, the Congress government — which swept to power in 2023 — has a direct stake in ensuring its support base remains on the rolls. The awareness drive in Devanahalli, a constituency in Bengaluru Rural district, marks one of the first large-scale ground mobilisations under the campaign.
The KPCC is expected to extend the programme to other districts in the coming weeks, with trained party workers deployed at the booth level to assist voters with documentation.
Point of View
Including first-time voters and marginalised communities, remains on the rolls ahead of the next electoral cycle. The threat of disciplinary action against absent officials reveals that the party is treating this less as a civic campaign and more as an organisational stress test. What remains to be seen is whether awareness alone translates into actual documentation support for voters who lack the required paperwork — the harder, unglamorous work that will determine whether the drive has real impact.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Congress Nade, Mata Rakshane Kade' programme?
It is a Congress awareness campaign launched by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to help citizens protect their voting rights during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The programme was inaugurated by KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar in Devanahalli on 25 May 2025.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The SIR is an exercise conducted by election authorities during which Booth Level Officers distribute enumeration forms that voters must fill out and submit with required documents to remain on the electoral roll. The KPCC has urged voters not to confuse it with a 'mapping process' and to cooperate with election officials.
Why is the Karnataka Congress running this campaign?
The party says it is concerned that citizens may lose their voting rights due to misconceptions about the SIR process or failure to submit the required documents. Critics and opposition parties have more broadly raised concerns about potential deletions from voter lists during intensive revision exercises.
What action did Shivakumar warn against party officials?
Shivakumar warned that party office-bearers and officials who were absent from the campaign meeting would face disciplinary action, including removal from their positions. He said ministers and MLAs had been directed to prioritise the drive over other work.
Will the Congress protest against the SIR process?
No. Shivakumar explicitly clarified that the party's focus will be on spreading awareness about the SIR rather than staging protests against it. Party workers will be trained to assist voters with enumeration forms and documentation at the booth level.
