Mangaluru: Former Karnataka minister and senior Congress leader Ramanath Rai has called for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Dakshina Kannada to be conducted in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. Addressing a press conference in Mangaluru on Wednesday, Rai said every eligible voter must be protected from wrongful exclusion, emphasising that the right to vote is a fundamental democratic right.
Speaking at the Dakshina Kannada District Congress office, Rai urged citizens not to be misled by what he described as misinformation surrounding the electoral roll revision exercise. He maintained that the revision process should strengthen democracy by ensuring that every eligible citizen continues to enjoy their voting rights.
Calls for transparency in electoral roll revision
Rai said the Special Intensive Revision should be implemented without bias or political influence and with complete transparency.
He stated that deleting the name of an eligible voter from the electoral roll would effectively deny that individual their democratic identity and constitutional right to participate in elections.
Appealing to the public, he urged citizens to cooperate with election officials while remaining vigilant to ensure that no eligible voter is left out during the revision process.
Criticism of BJP allegations
The senior Congress leader criticised statements made by BJP leaders regarding the SIR exercise.
Rai alleged that BJP leaders were making baseless claims that foreign nationals were being included in the voters’ list and that the electoral roll revision was being conducted collectively in mosques.
Rejecting these allegations, he pointed out that the Election Commission has already provided an online facility for completing the SIR process, making such claims unfounded.
He maintained that the revision process follows established procedures under the supervision of the Election Commission and urged the public not to believe rumours or politically motivated propaganda.
Appreciation for Booth Level Officers
Rai praised the work being carried out by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), saying they have continued performing their duties despite several practical challenges during the revision exercise.
He alleged that attempts were being made by BJP leaders to politicise the process and create communal divisions, which, according to him, could undermine public confidence in the electoral system.
The Congress leader said election officials should be allowed to carry out their responsibilities independently and without political pressure.
Observations on previous electoral revisions
Drawing on his political experience, Rai said electoral roll revisions had also been conducted during previous Congress governments.
He noted that the BJP had described the current exercise as the 11th Special Intensive Revision. However, he observed that earlier revision exercises were generally conducted through enumeration, whereas the present practice of obtaining signatures on enumeration forms was a new experience for him.
Rai further alleged that while the inclusion of a new voter requires submission of multiple documents and supporting evidence, deleting names from the electoral roll appears comparatively easier.
He expressed concern that such provisions could be misused for political purposes if the process is not implemented carefully.
Congress creating awareness among BLAs
Rai said Booth Level Agents (BLAs) representing all recognised political parties have been permitted to accompany Booth Level Officers during house-to-house verification.
According to him, the Congress has been conducting awareness programmes for its BLAs to ensure they understand the procedures involved in the revision exercise.
He added that information relating to the SIR process has also been shared with BLAs across the district through Booth Level Officers in a non-partisan manner so that the exercise is carried out smoothly.
Appeal to protect democratic rights
Concluding his remarks, Rai reiterated that the electoral roll revision should remain free from political interference and communal narratives.
He stressed that every eligible citizen has the constitutional right to vote and called upon election authorities to ensure that the revision process is conducted fairly, transparently and without excluding genuine voters.
Several Congress leaders attended the press conference, including Shashidhar Hegde, Prakash Salian, Harinath, Mamatha Gatti, Manjula Nayak, Vikas Shetty, Shubhodaya Alva, Honnayya, Padmanabha, Geetha, Sachin, Yogeesh, Shabir, Suhan Alva, Joaquim, Prasad Jain and Sunil.