Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday, 7 July firmly stated that the state government will not interfere in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the franchise of every eligible voter in the state. Addressing reporters in Kalaburagi, Shivakumar said the government has extended full cooperation to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the revision proceeds transparently and within the legal framework.

Government's Stand on the SIR Process

Shivakumar said the state has no interest in politicising the SIR exercise and that the government's singular focus is on ensuring no eligible voter loses their right to vote. 'Politics is not important here; protecting every citizen's franchise is the government's responsibility,' he said.

He noted that although the state has raised objections regarding certain aspects of the SIR process before the court, it has simultaneously continued cooperating with the Election Commission — a level of cooperation, he claimed, that no other state has provided. He made clear, however, that the process must remain within the bounds of the law.

BLOs Directed for Three-Visit Verification

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been instructed to visit every household a minimum of three times during the verification exercise to ensure that all eligible voters are accounted for. Political parties have also been permitted to assist voters in filling out enumeration forms through Booth Level Agents (BLA-2s).

Shivakumar stressed that BLOs must conduct the revision strictly in accordance with the ECI's guidelines and that there can be no compromise on retaining the names of eligible voters in the electoral rolls.

Free Residence and Caste Certificates for Voters

In a significant administrative measure, the Chief Minister announced that the state government will issue residence certificates and caste certificates free of cost to help citizens obtain the documents required for the electoral revision process. This move is aimed at removing procedural barriers that could otherwise result in eligible voters being excluded from the rolls.

Opposition Allegations and NDA Delegation's Demands

Responding to Opposition allegations that officials were being pressured during the SIR process, Shivakumar maintained that officials are discharging their duties in accordance with ECI guidelines and that the state government is not interfering. He said the oversight of the SIR process is the responsibility of the Centre, while the state's role is to provide the required staff — a responsibility, he said, the government is fulfilling.

Meanwhile, a senior National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Karnataka delegation met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on the same day, submitting a detailed memorandum alleging irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls in Karnataka. The delegation urged the ECI to immediately suspend the ongoing SIR, direct re-verification of all enumeration forms already collected, and mandate door-to-door verification in accordance with prescribed norms.

The NDA memorandum also called for the appointment of Central Observers from other states in every district to oversee the process and demanded strict legal and disciplinary action against officials and political functionaries allegedly found responsible for procedural violations.

What Comes Next

With the state government and the NDA opposition now both formally engaging the Election Commission — one pledging cooperation, the other alleging misconduct — the ECI's response will be closely watched. The appointment of Central Observers and the outcome of the court proceedings on the state's objections are the two key developments that will shape the SIR process in Karnataka in the coming weeks.