Satish Jarkiholi defends the state exercise, while Priyank Kharge seeks scrutiny of alleged Form 7 irregularities
Disagreement surfaces within state Congress
The Karnataka Congress is facing questions over differing assessments of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi has defended the exercise in Karnataka, while Home Minister Priyank Kharge has raised concerns about alleged irregularities in some districts.
Jarkiholi says the exercise was properly conducted
Jarkiholi said the SIR process in Karnataka had been carried out properly, citing the training and groundwork undertaken by the party. He maintained that Congress had not opposed the exercise in the state, while expressing concerns about its implementation in places such as West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bihar.
Deletions attributed to routine corrections
Responding to questions about the removal of around one crore names, Jarkiholi said the deletions largely involved voters who had died, shifted residence or appeared more than once in the rolls. His comments presented the Karnataka exercise as distinct from the concerns raised by the party in other states.
Priyank Kharge flags Form 7 complaints
Priyank Kharge questioned the use of pre-filled Form 7 applications, which can be submitted to seek deletion of names from electoral rolls. He alleged that applications had been filed in bulk without adequate verification and referred to cases in Kalaburagi and Vijayapura where living voters were reportedly marked as deceased. He called for the allegations to be examined.
BJP questions the party’s position
The BJP has highlighted the difference between Jarkiholi’s defence of the Karnataka exercise and the Congress leadership’s criticism of SIR elsewhere. Its comments are part of the political dispute over the revision process; the allegations raised by Priyank Kharge require examination by the relevant authorities.
Debate comes ahead of Delhi protest
The disagreement has emerged shortly before the Congress-led INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. The state-level exchange has added another dimension to the national debate over electoral roll revisions and the opposition’s demand for greater transparency.