Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar stages dharna at CEO office over voter deletion row

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday staged a dharna at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru, demanding a criminal case and a serious investigation into what he alleged was a conspiracy to delete names of eligible voters through Form 7 applications.

Shivakumar, accompanied by several Cabinet colleagues and legislators, visited the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Gandhinagar and submitted a memorandum seeking action over the alleged irregularities. He later staged a protest on the steps of the office and said the agitation would continue until a criminal case was registered and a serious investigation ordered.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryWHAT DID SHIVAKUMAR DEMAND?Speaking to the media before the dharna, Shivakumar said the Election Commission was a constitutional body and that the state government respected its authority.

However, he alleged that irregularities had taken place in the voter deletion process and claimed that evidence had already been submitted to the Election Commission.

“We have explained the irregularities taking place in the state. They have seen the evidence with their own eyes. BJP leaders have admitted their involvement and have asked that no action be taken against them and that the applications they submitted be returned,” he alleged.

Shivakumar said the state government had submitted documents and videos related to Mysuru, Belagavi and Bhalki constituencies. He said senior officials had been contacted over the matter and that the Election Commission had sought time until Friday.

He also said the Election Commission had sought a report from the respective Deputy Commissioner.

“If they do not trust the evidence we have submitted, let them call for the report. Our struggle will not stop until a serious investigation is ordered,” he said.CLAIMS OVER FORM 7 APPLICATIONS

Shivakumar claimed that around 13,000 Form 7 applications had been submitted in two Assembly constituencies in Ballari and were later withdrawn.

He also alleged that around 13,000 applications had been submitted in Vijayapura, excluding the Babaleshwar constituency, and were subsequently withdrawn with requests that no action be taken.

Alleging an attempt to deprive voters of their franchise, Shivakumar described the alleged irregularities as a serious offence against the democratic process.

“They have attempted to steal the voting rights of electors. This is vote theft,” he said.

He further alleged that attempts had been made to delete voters’ names on a large scale in constituencies represented by ministers.

“By doing this, they have stabbed the democratic system in the back. A question arises as to why the Congress party fought for the country’s independence and gave it the Constitution. Although the Election Commission has been given the freedom to take necessary action, they are now moving to seek advice from legal experts. Let them get the advice,” Shivakumar said.‘CONSPIRACY’ ACROSS CONSTITUENCIES

Shivakumar alleged that the issue was not limited to a few constituencies and claimed that a larger network was behind the alleged irregularities.

“We ourselves do not know the EPIC numbers of our family members, but these people have all the information through the EPIC numbers. A conspiracy was hatched to delete 10,000 to 20,000 votes across all 224 constituencies,” he alleged.

He also alleged that the Congress government had extended full cooperation to the Election Commission during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

“Yet, such a conspiracy has been carried out by the BJP and Janata Dal,” he alleged.

Referring to the earlier controversy involving the Chilume organisation, Shivakumar alleged that similar irregularities were now being raised in connection with Form 7 applications.

“Earlier, they committed irregularities through the Chilume organisation. Now, when the people who submitted these Form 7 applications were questioned, they said they did not know about them and that these applications had come to them from BJP offices and leaders,” he alleged.‘WILL NOT MOVE’ UNTIL ACTION

Shivakumar said the issue had attracted attention across the country and reiterated that his protest would continue until the Election Commission initiated action.

“The entire country is watching this vote theft. We will not move from here until the Election Commission takes necessary action. Permission must be granted for the Deputy Commissioner to register a criminal case,” he said.

He added that some voters had already lodged FIRs and that those cases would be investigated according to law.

Defending his decision to join the protest despite a scheduled Cabinet meeting, Shivakumar said protecting the voting rights of voters was more important.

“A Cabinet meeting was scheduled today for other matters. However, protecting the voting rights of the state’s voters is more important than anything else. This responsibility rests on me,” he added.WHO JOINED THE PROTEST?

Several Karnataka ministers, MPs and MLAs joined Shivakumar at the protest.

Ministers K.J. George, Muniyappa, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Basavantappa, Byrathi Suresh, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, Balakrishna, Rizwan Arshad, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, Ajay Singh, Shivalingegowda, Puttarangashetty and T. Raghumurthy were among those present.

MP G.C. Chandrashekar and MLAs Konareddy, Kampli Ganesh and Bharath Reddy also participated in the protest.- Ends