DK Shivakumar Leads Sit-In Over Bulk Form 7 Filings, Demands EC Probe
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar confronted election officials over alleged bulk Form 7 filings, demanding an inquiry into attempts to delete voters from electoral rolls.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar led a sit-in at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office over allegations that Form 7 applications were being filed in bulk to seek deletion of voters from electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision.
Shivakumar put a scheduled Cabinet meeting on hold and was joined by ministers, Congress MLAs and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The protest lasted around five hours, with the Chief Minister demanding an inquiry and an FIR over what he described as electoral fraud.
Form 7 is used to raise objections to the inclusion or deletion of names from an electoral roll. Shivakumar alleged that unusually large numbers of applications were submitted in several constituencies, including Belagavi North, Mudigere, Babaleshwar, Narasimha Raja and Bhalki.
He also raised concerns over applications containing pre-printed voter names, EPIC numbers and other details, and sought verification of individuals who allegedly submitted unusually high numbers of forms.
The Chief Minister further alleged that some voters from minority communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes could be disproportionately affected, while asking officials to establish whether political functionaries were involved. These remain allegations requiring verification.
Following the protest, Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar directed election officials to initiate action against applicants found to have knowingly made false statements or declarations.
The confrontation marks a sharper political stance from Shivakumar after an initial period focused on governance and consensus. The Form 7 dispute has now put Karnataka’s electoral-roll revision firmly under the political spotlight.
