Daijiworld Media Network – Mysuru

Mysuru, Oct 4: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the Election Commission would itself investigate complaints over Form 7 applications allegedly filed by BJP members seeking deletion of voters’ names, ruling out a separate probe by the SIT constituted by the state government.

Speaking at the Periyapatna helipad in Mysuru district, Shivakumar said many residents were unaware that applications had been filed seeking deletion of their names from the electoral rolls.

“It is a fact that there is a conflict. Forms have been printed. Many residents themselves do not know why someone has submitted Form 7 for deletion of their name. The Election Commission said that they will take measures as per law,” he said.

He said the Election Commission had assured that names would not be deleted suddenly and had directed election officials to carry out proper verification in accordance with legal provisions.

The Central Election Commission had also asked officials to compare the new list with the previous roll and protect the votes of vulnerable sections, including people living on the streets, the poor, minorities and SC/ST communities.

“Several local people have lodged the complaints in this regard and they are verifying,” Shivakumar said.

The chief minister also denied that he had protested against the Election Commissioner, saying he had only brought the issue and relevant legal provisions to the Commission’s attention.

“I have only brought the issue and legal provisions to the Election Commission. As a representative of people, I have to protect their votes. The Election Commissioner sought time for it, so we wondered why they needed time for this, so we sat there. Finally they consulted their legal experts who arrived and took necessary steps.”

Responding to BJP leaders’ statements that complaints would be lodged against him, Shivakumar said, “Owing to pressure, in order to protect themselves, BJP leaders are making such statements. We have only appealed to the constitutional body, as I cannot demand it. They cannot come to me, so I have gone to them. Let me respect the law. If I have made any mistake and created chaos on streets, let them file a complaint.”

EC data shows most Form 7 applications predate SIR

The political row centres on allegations of bulk applications for deletion of voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). However, Election Commission data showed that Form 7 applications were significantly higher before the SIR exercise than during it.

Between January 1, 2025 and June 16, 2026, the EC received 15.87 lac Form 7 applications, resulting in 14.84 lac deletions. Between June 16 and October 2, another 84,900 applications were submitted, all of which were pending verification.

The Congress has alleged a systematic attempt to delete targeted voters, particularly its supporters. The BJP, meanwhile, has maintained that Congress added bogus voters to electoral rolls to win elections and that it was merely petitioning the EC to remove fraudulent entries.

Shivakumar has alleged a huge “conspiracy” by the BJP to delete 50 lakh voters. State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said the actual submissions were only a few thousand.

“Submitting Form 7 is not illegal. The EC will verify each objection before any deletion,” Vijayendra said.

Officials point to checks and balances

Senior election officials said no voter had been deleted so far in the current exercise and that unusual increases in Forms 6, 7 or 8 would be detected through regular monitoring.

“In an election year, we see an abnormal increase in applications for voter inclusion, shifting of voters and even movement of potential candidates between constituencies or wards. Parties are aware of both additions and deletions as Forms 9, 10, 11 and 11A are shared with them on the last Saturday of every month. The EC also tracks Formats 1 to 8 to monitor demographics, coverage and changes,” an official said.

The official said Booth-Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties acted as concurrent auditors with access to the data.

The formats provide polling-station-wise gender and elector-population ratios, inclusions and deletions compared with the previous roll, district-level age-cohort data, EPIC and photo coverage, polling station locations, service voters and migrated electors. EPIC refers to the Electoral Photo Identity Card.

Officials also pointed to the low net deletions, noting that Forms 7 and 8 were interlinked.

In June, 14.84 lac names were deleted, 6.96 lac voters shifted and 13.29 lac new voters, including first-time voters, were added.

As of October 2, the EC had received 11.78 lac Form 8 applications and 8.85 lakh Form 6 applications, compared with 84,900 Form 7 applications.

“During every summary revision, 8 lakh to 10 lac new voters, including 4 lac to 5 lac first-time voters, are added and another 4 lac to 5 lac names deleted,” the official said.

Since 2023, voters shifting residence have needed to submit only Form 8, along with supporting documents, at their new residence. Their names are then automatically deleted from the old booth or constituency.

Officials said declarations in Forms 6 to 8 also acted as a deterrent against fraud. Duplicate entries, meanwhile, would be removed from the final rolls using software designed to detect photo and demographic similarities.