Karnataka SIR: BLOs filling forms in mosques, no door-to-door survey, allege BJP, JD(S)

Opposition leaders in Congress-ruled Karnataka have written to the Election Commission alleging “massive irregularities” in the special intensive revision of voter rolls in the state, IANS reported.

The door-to-door enumeration exercise for the revision of electoral rolls began in the state under phase three of the special intensive revision on June 30.

The Election Commission is carrying out the exercise to revise electoral rolls through house-to-house enumeration and verification of old voter data.

On Tuesday, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) alleged that the officials conducting the exercise in Karnataka are showing “zero regard for the approved process…undermining the very spirit of democracy”.

Booth-level officers “belonging to a particular religion are being deployed in minority areas” to conduct the voter roll revision exercise, the group led by Bharatiya Janata Party leader R Ashok said in the letter. Ashok is the leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.

The letter said: “Religion of the booth-level officer should not matter while conducting the SIR.”

“Enumeration forms are being filled out while sitting at community halls, mosques and the residences of [booth-level officers],” the letter said. “WhatsApp groups have also been created for the same purpose and people and being encouraged to visit these community halls and mosques for the SIR process.”

It added: “Such a...

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