BJP lodges complaint over Karnataka voter roll revision

A major political controversy has erupted in Karnataka over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formally accusing the state government of manipulating the voter verification process. The party has demanded immediate intervention from election authorities to ensure the integrity of the exercise.

On Saturday, July 4, a BJP delegation led by state president B.Y. Vijayendra and senior leader S. Suresh Kumar submitted a detailed memorandum to the state's Chief Electoral Officer. The complaint alleges widespread violations of Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, claiming the revision is being compromised by procedural irregularities.

The core allegation is that the mandatory door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) is being systematically diluted. Instead of visiting individual households, officials are allegedly being directed to conduct the exercise collectively at centralized camps in public locations. The BJP cited instances where verification was reportedly being carried out in community halls, marriage halls, mosques, and even at the offices of legislators. The party contends...