Karnataka SIR Row: Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar Raise Allegations Over Bulk Form-7 Applications

Bengaluru, October 2026: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have raised concerns over the alleged bulk submission of Form-7 applications seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Congress leaders have alleged that BJP and JD(S) workers were involved in an organised attempt to target legitimate voters through bulk deletion applications. The allegations have intensified the political dispute in Karnataka over the revision and verification of electoral rolls.

The allegations remain contested, and election authorities are examining individual complaints and applications to determine whether any violations occurred.

D.K. Shivakumar Seeks Investigation

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar led Congress leaders and Cabinet colleagues in raising the issue before Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer.

The Congress delegation submitted a memorandum seeking an investigation into the alleged misuse of Form-7 applications and action against anyone found to have submitted false information.

Form 7 is an official electoral form used to object to the inclusion or continued retention of a person's name on the electoral roll. Deletion requests can be made under specified circumstances, including death, shifting of residence or duplicate entries.

Shivakumar questioned how voter details, including names, addresses and EPIC numbers, were allegedly obtained and used in some of the disputed applications.

Congress Alleges Targeting of Eligible Voters

Congress leaders have alleged that some bulk applications targeted voters belonging to minority communities and other vulnerable sections.

The party has claimed that applications were submitted against voters from different social and economic backgrounds and has demanded an investigation into whether the process was deliberately misused.

Shivakumar has called for those responsible for submitting fraudulent applications to face legal action if the allegations are established.

However, the allegations against BJP and JD(S) workers are political claims and should not be treated as proven facts unless established through official investigations or judicial proceedings.

Bulk Form-7 Applications Reported

The controversy involves several constituencies across Karnataka.

Congress leaders have highlighted cases involving areas including Vijayapura, Belagavi, Mudigere, Bhalki, Babaleshwar and Bengaluru.

The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer's office has reported that 84,900 Form-7 applications were submitted in the state during the SIR process. The submission of an application, however, does not by itself establish that it was fraudulent or that the concerned voter was ultimately removed from the electoral roll.

Election officials are required to examine deletion requests before making changes to the electoral rolls.

FIRs Registered in Some Cases

The controversy has also resulted in police complaints and FIRs concerning alleged irregularities in Form-7 applications.

Cases have been reported in areas including Mysuru, Bidar and Belagavi.

In one case in Bhalki, Bidar, an FIR reportedly concerned applications seeking deletion of the names of 3,244 voters. Another complaint in Belagavi involved an alleged attempt to remove the names of 198 voters using allegedly forged documents.

These cases remain subject to investigation. The registration of an FIR does not itself establish guilt.

Election Authorities Order Action Against False Applications

The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has directed electoral officials to take appropriate action against applications containing false statements or declarations.

Election officials have also been instructed to follow the required verification process before approving deletion requests.

For example, deletion on the grounds of death requires appropriate supporting documentation, while duplicate-entry claims require relevant details concerning the other electoral entry.

The directions are intended to ensure that genuine voters are not removed without proper verification.

Siddaramaiah Government Faces Political Pressure

The controversy comes as the Karnataka government faces growing political debate over the electoral-roll revision process.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have repeatedly raised concerns about protecting eligible voters during the SIR exercise.

The Congress government has demanded greater scrutiny of bulk deletion applications and has called for action wherever electoral rules may have been violated.

The BJP, meanwhile, has disputed Congress's allegations and criticised the ruling party's handling of the issue.

BJP and Congress Clash Over SIR

The Form-7 controversy has become another point of confrontation between Karnataka's Congress government and the BJP.

Congress leaders argue that suspicious bulk applications require investigation because an improperly processed deletion request could affect an eligible citizen's right to vote.

The BJP has rejected the broader political allegations surrounding the SIR process.

The Election Commission's role is to verify electoral-roll claims and objections according to established procedures rather than accept or reject applications solely on the basis of political allegations.

Why Form 7 Is Important

Form 7 is an important part of the electoral-roll management system.

It allows objections to be raised against names that may have been included incorrectly or that may no longer qualify to remain on a particular electoral roll.

Legitimate use of Form 7 can help election authorities identify deceased voters, duplicate entries and voters who have shifted their residence.

At the same time, the Karnataka controversy has highlighted concerns about what safeguards are necessary when large numbers of applications are submitted within a short period.

Concerns Over Minority and Vulnerable Voters

Congress has particularly raised concerns about voters from minority communities and other vulnerable sections.

The party has alleged that some of the disputed applications could disproportionately affect such voters.

These allegations require verification through the individual records and evidence associated with the applications.

The issue has therefore become both an electoral-administration matter and a major political controversy in Karnataka.

Investigation Will Determine the Facts

The ongoing investigations into disputed Form-7 applications will be important in determining whether any applications were deliberately submitted with false information.

Where election officials or police establish violations, legal action may follow under the applicable provisions.

At the same time, applications that are found to be legitimate can proceed through the normal electoral-roll process.

This distinction is important because the existence of a large number of Form-7 applications alone does not prove that an organised voter-deletion conspiracy occurred.

SIR Becomes a Major Political Issue in Karnataka

The dispute over Form-7 applications has added to the wider national debate over electoral-roll revision and the Special Intensive Revision process.

For the Congress government in Karnataka, protecting eligible voters has become a central concern in its criticism of alleged irregularities.

For election authorities, the challenge is to verify deletion requests while ensuring that genuine voters remain on the electoral rolls.

The allegations involving BJP and JD(S) workers will ultimately have to be assessed through official investigations and available evidence.

As the SIR process continues, the Karnataka dispute is likely to remain an important issue in discussions about voter rights, electoral transparency and the management of electoral rolls.