Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has alleged an organised attempt to delete nearly 15,000 voter names from electoral rolls in Karnataka’s Belagavi.
He claimed that a large number of Form 7 applications were submitted over three days in September to remove voters from the electoral list. Gandhi also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and called for an investigation into the alleged irregularities.
The allegations have intensified the political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Gandhi raised the issue through social media, questioning the Election Commission’s handling of voter-deletion applications and demanding action against those responsible.
Rahul Gandhi Claims Bulk Form 7 Applications Targeted Voters
According to Gandhi, a surge of Form 7 applications was received on September 22, 23 and 24, seeking the deletion of nearly 15,000 names from the Belagavi electoral rolls.
Form 7 allows an elector or another eligible applicant to object to the inclusion of a name or seek deletion from the electoral roll under specified conditions.
Gandhi alleged that the applications targeted Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
He further claimed that a centralised software-based process facilitated the bulk submission of applications against selected voters.
The Congress leader questioned how such a large number of applications could emerge within a short period. He demanded an investigation into the alleged use of automated systems in the voter-deletion process.
These claims remain allegations and require investigation by the competent authorities.
Rahul Gandhi Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
Gandhi called for Gyanesh Kumar to resign and demanded an investigation into the alleged voter-deletion attempt.
He also questioned why the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer had not registered an FIR in connection with the complaints.
The Congress leader accused the BJP and the Election Commission of working together to undermine the electoral process. He called for accountability from officials responsible for handling the applications.
Gandhi’s demand came amid wider opposition protests against the CEC over the SIR exercise.
The Congress has repeatedly raised concerns about voter-list revisions and alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
Belagavi Police Register FIR Against 25 People
The controversy gained momentum after Belagavi police registered an FIR against BJP functionary Dr Ravi Patil and around 20 to 25 others.
The complaint concerns an alleged attempt to remove 198 voters’ names from electoral rolls through Form 7 applications.
The FIR reportedly involves allegations of forged documents and false information in the applications.
Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.
The case is separate from Gandhi’s broader allegation concerning nearly 15,000 voter names. However, both developments have added to concerns surrounding the submission of bulk deletion applications in Karnataka.
Karnataka Congress Seeks Action From Election Officials
Karnataka Congress leaders have approached the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, seeking an FIR and investigation into the alleged irregularities.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has also accused BJP and JD(S) leaders of attempting to remove additional voters from electoral rolls through pre-filled Form 7 applications.
He has called for a criminal investigation into the complaints.
The Election Commission has sought reports from district officials regarding the allegations. Officials have also indicated that legal proceedings may follow where violations are established.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office has said it would examine the communication received on the issue.
Special Intensive Revision Faces Political Opposition
The Special Intensive Revision has become a major issue between opposition parties and the Election Commission.
The exercise aims to verify electoral records and update voter lists. However, opposition leaders have alleged that the process could lead to the removal of eligible voters.
The Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revisions follow established legal procedures.
It has also directed officials to verify the status of voters whose names are missing from revised lists and facilitate fresh enrolment where necessary.
The controversy has prompted demands for greater transparency, scrutiny of deletion applications and safeguards for eligible voters.
Voter Deletion Allegations Add to CEC Controversy
Rahul Gandhi’s latest allegations have added another dimension to the opposition’s campaign against Gyanesh Kumar.
The Congress has demanded his resignation while seeking an investigation into the Belagavi applications.
At the same time, police and election officials are examining complaints involving alleged attempts to remove voter names.
The outcome of these investigations will be important in determining whether the applications involved procedural violations or deliberate wrongdoing.
The controversy continues to place electoral-roll revision, voter protection and accountability within the Election Commission at the centre of political debate.