Voter Deletion Allegations
Karnataka Congress Leaders Stage Bengaluru Protest Over Alleged Voter Deletion Plot
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Key Points
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In Koppa, Congress leader Sudhir Kumar Murolli alleged that a targeted voter, Vazir Khan, was both a schoolteacher and the Booth Level Officer for the Kattemane booth. Murolli said the BJP sought to delete Khan’s name because of his community.
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The alleged deletions in Koppa could have had particular electoral significance: the Congress’s winning margin in the last Sringeri Assembly election was 201 votes, fewer than the 243 names allegedly targeted.
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Shivakumar cited specific numbers of Form 7 applications: about 6,259 in Mudigere, 3,000 in Belagavi North, 2,285 in Bhalki, 1,373 in Babaleshwar and 1,200 in Narasimharaja. He said many were reported on September 22, 23 and 24.
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The CJP said its proposed Delhi action would be rooted in non-violent civil disobedience, and its founder said protesters would treat wherever police stopped them as their Jantar Mantar.
Karnataka's Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar led a protest at the state electoral office in Bengaluru, accusing BJP figures of filing bulk voter deletion applications to remove eligible voters. Congress leaders alleged that 243 voters in the Koppa taluk were targeted, with The Hindu reporting that many of the targeted individuals belong to minority communities and marginalized groups. Shivakumar demanded the police file a criminal case and investigate alleged voter deletion plots across multiple constituencies.
The dispute centers on Form 7 applications — official documents used to remove voters from electoral rolls. Shivakumar cited specific numbers: about 6,259 applications in Mudigere, 3,000 in Belagavi North, 2,285 in Bhalki, 1,373 in Babaleshwar, and 1,200 in Narasimharaja, with most filed on September 22, 23, and 24. Many applications were later withdrawn, and Congress leaders say the forms contained pre-printed voter details, suggesting coordination.
Koppa Voters Allegedly Targeted for Deletion
In Koppa taluk, Congress leader Sudhir Kumar Murolli alleged that a targeted voter, Vazir Khan, was a schoolteacher and Booth Level Officer. Murolli claimed the BJP sought to delete Khan's name because of his community. The 243 allegedly targeted voters represented a significant electoral threat — the Congress won the last Sringeri Assembly election by just 201 votes.
Shivakumar said the targeted voters included members of minority communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. He alleged that some applications were filed in bulk and later withdrawn, suggesting a coordinated effort. The Chief Minister did not provide evidence the deletions were based on community membership.
Electoral Commission Seeks Reports on Complaints
Election Commission officials have asked state authorities for detailed reports on the voter deletion complaints. The investigation remains preliminary, and the allegations have not been independently verified. Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer received the formal protest and demands for a time-bound inquiry into the suspected irregularities across multiple constituencies.
Gen Z Activists Protest Electoral Changes in Delhi
The Cockroach Janata Party, a Gen Z-led protest group, called for a peaceful demonstration on October 10 in Delhi. Indian police detained several people during a second day of protests against changes to voter rolls. The group demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
The CJP's founder said protesters would treat wherever police stopped them as their Jantar Mantar — a reference to the famous protest site in Delhi. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected the activists' claims as a "fake narrative," saying they had been disproven. He did not specify which allegations he disputed.
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