Mangaluru: AICC secretary, Andhra Pradesh in-charge and MLC P V Mohan raised concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities in the addition and deletion of voters during a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Mallikatte on Saturday.
Mohan said the revision of electoral rolls required serious public attention and alleged that a large number of voters were being removed from electoral rolls across several states. Referring to Karnataka, he claimed that around 1.08 crore voters had been marked for deletion from the draft electoral roll, while only around 6–7 lakh new voters had been added through Form 6.
The figure of 1.08 crore relates to voters placed in the Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate and Others (ASDDO) category during the SIR process. Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer had earlier reported that more than 1.08 crore electors were in this category following the house-to-house enumeration exercise.
Mohan questions voter-roll revision process
Mohan compared Karnataka’s SIR process with the revision undertaken in Kerala and said discrepancies identified there were verified through Booth Level Officers (BLOs), following which eligible voters were restored to the rolls.
He questioned the extent of authority currently available to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and BLOs in Karnataka and called for greater scrutiny of the procedures being followed during the revision.
The Election Commission’s schedule for Karnataka provides for claims and objections following publication of the draft electoral roll, with the claims and objections period originally scheduled from August 5 to September 4 and the notice and disposal process continuing until October 3. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on October 7.
Concerns raised over Form 7
Mohan also raised concerns over the alleged misuse of Form 7, which is used to raise objections to the inclusion of names in electoral rolls.
Referring to incidents in Belagavi and Malleswaram, he called for greater scrutiny of deletion requests and strict adherence to the prescribed verification process before names are removed from electoral rolls.
His remarks come amid reports of discrepancies and questions surrounding deletion requests during Karnataka’s SIR. A recent report also highlighted a difference of about 6,000 between Form 7 deletion figures in data released at different stages by the Karnataka election authorities.
Mohan said the authorities should ensure that deletion requests are subjected to proper verification and that eligible voters are not affected during the revision process.
Calls for easier registration of young voters
Mohan further raised concerns about changes to Form 6, which is used for registration of new voters.
He said changes to the registration process could discourage young people from enrolling and urged the authorities to ensure that eligible first-time voters are given an opportunity to register without unnecessary obstacles.
The Election Commission’s voter services portal currently provides Form 6 for new voter registration and related guidelines for applicants.
The Congress leader also called for greater public scrutiny of the electoral-roll revision process and urged journalists to investigate the functioning of voter-registration and deletion systems.
Allegation over access to voter data
Mohan alleged that a private agency associated with BJP election operations had access to voter data and the Election Commission’s system.
However, he did not name the organisation or individual allegedly associated with the claim. He called for the matter to be independently investigated and verified.
The allegation was made during the press conference and was not independently established in the information available regarding the event.
Mohan also referred to voter-roll-related controversies and developments reported from Kerala, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka, saying that transparency in electoral rolls was important for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Recent reporting has separately highlighted issues surrounding SIR-related voter deletions in Karnataka, including applications seeking deletion of thousands of names in two constituencies.
Mohan welcomes Tulu recognition
During the press conference, Mohan also spoke about Tulu identity and welcomed the recent decision concerning recognition of Tulu.
He said the language and its cultural identity extend beyond Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, emphasising the wider geographical and cultural presence of Tulu.
The issue comes shortly after the Karnataka government’s announcement regarding Tulu as the state’s second official language, which has generated significant discussion in coastal Karnataka.
Congress to hold padayatra
Mohan said the Congress would continue raising concerns related to electoral-roll revision and announced that the party would hold a padayatra on Monday as part of its campaign.
The party has been questioning aspects of the SIR exercise, particularly the process of identifying voters for possible exclusion and the verification required before deletion from electoral rolls.
The Election Commission’s official portal provides facilities for voters to search their names, access SIR electoral-roll information, submit documents against notices and apply for new voter registration.
The Karnataka SIR process is currently moving through the claims, objections and verification stages. The concerns raised by Mohan are therefore part of a wider political debate over the revision, while the final electoral roll is scheduled to be published after the completion of the prescribed process.