Pics: Nayana J C
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Oct 6: Dakshina Kannada MP and BJP leader Captain Brijesh Chowta on Tuesday accused the Congress of spreading misinformation and creating confusion among the public over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, asserting that Form 7 is an objection mechanism and does not automatically result in the deletion of a voter’s name.
Addressing a press conference at the district BJP office near PVS Circle in Mangaluru, Chowta said the SIR process was intended to ensure accurate electoral rolls by removing entries of deceased voters, identifying duplicate registrations, updating addresses of voters who had shifted and rectifying errors in names.
Accusing the Congress government of continuing what he described as a “journey of lies” over the past 12 years, Chowta alleged that the party was attempting to create confusion and communal tension over the electoral revision process.
He said SIR was not a new exercise and asserted that the revision was being conducted under the established electoral framework. He also accused Congress leaders of showing a lack of faith in constitutional institutions and democratic procedures.
Referring to electoral roll figures, Capt Chowta said Karnataka had 5,54,32,114 registered voters before the revision, while the draft electoral roll published on August 24 contained 4,46,80,151 voters.
He rejected Congress allegations that 50–60 lakh voters were being unlawfully removed, arguing that the draft roll should not be treated as the final electoral list.
According to Capt Chowta, more than 3.5 lac new voters had been added through Form 6 applications within approximately 10 days of publication of the draft roll.
He said the revision process provided eligible citizens with opportunities to register their names and correct discrepancies, and urged the public not to confuse publication of the draft roll with the final deletion of voters.
‘Form 7 is not a deletion order’
Responding to allegations that Form 7 applications were being used to target minority communities, Chowta said the form was meant to raise objections regarding entries in the electoral roll, including cases involving deceased voters, duplicate registrations or voters who had shifted residence.
“Form 7 is not a deletion order; it is only an objection. The Election Commission is responsible for verifying the objection before taking a decision,” he said.
He maintained that the concerned authorities must follow the prescribed procedure, including verification of the relevant details, before removing a name from the electoral roll.
Capt Brijesh Chowta challenged Congress leaders to produce specific evidence of voters whose names had been unlawfully deleted. He alleged that the party was raising concerns before the verification process had been completed.
He also said that if an eligible voter’s name was inadvertently deleted, the person could apply for inclusion through Form 6, in accordance with the applicable procedure.
Chowta accuses Congress leaders of obstructing SIR
The member of Parliament accused the Congress government, particularly former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, of obstructing the SIR process and intimidating Booth Level Agents (BLO) appointed by recognised political parties.
He questioned the Congress leadership’s protests at Election Commission offices and called upon political parties to cooperate with election officials to ensure a transparent and accurate electoral roll.
He said Booth Level Agents appointed by recognised political parties had a role in assisting authorities during the revision process. He also maintained that objections submitted by such agents should be examined through the prescribed legal procedure.
Referring to allegations that bulk Form 7 applications had been submitted against voters belonging predominantly to minority communities, Capt Chowta denied that the existence of such objections, by itself, established unlawful deletion. He insisted that the Election Commission should be allowed to verify each case.
He further warned that the BJP would not remain silent if its workers were intimidated while participating in the electoral revision exercise.
Individual lapses should not be confused with SIR, says Chowta
While defending the SIR framework, Capt Chowta acknowledged that individual officials might not always carry out their responsibilities properly.
Responding to questions about allegations that some Booth Level Officers were issuing notices without physically visiting voters’ homes, he said officials were expected to undertake the required field verification.
“If an individual officer fails to perform the assigned duty properly, it is an implementation issue in that particular case,” he said, while maintaining that such instances should not be confused with a flaw in the overall revision process.
He also said procedural concerns, including spelling mistakes in voters’ names, should be addressed through the appropriate channels.
Capt Chowta urged the media to examine the process carefully and called upon political parties to cooperate with election authorities rather than create public confusion.
Seeks removal of Brahmarakotlu toll plaza
Responding to a separate question on the Brahmarakotlu toll plaza, Capt Chowta said he had written to the union ministry concerned seeking its removal, keeping prescribed distance guidelines and the development of new toll infrastructure in mind.
He said the ministry had responded favourably to his request and that the toll plaza would be removed or upgraded once the proposed toll infrastructure on the highway towards Bengaluru via B C Road and the Punjalakatte road became operational.
He said he would provide a more detailed briefing on infrastructure development separately.
BJP district vice-president Pooja Pai, district general secretaries Poornima and Sujeeth Pratap, district spokesperson Rajgopal Rai, district media in-charge Vasanth J Poojary, and district spokesperson Jeevan Kumar Thokottu were present at the press conference.