Home » Nation and Beyond » Karnataka civil society urges CM Shivakumar to seek ECI extension over voter roll risks
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge stated on August 18 that civil society representatives met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to express concerns about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly regarding the possible exclusion of eligible voters.
Kharge highlighted that 1.09 crore voters are currently listed under ASDDO (Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead and Others), with proposed deletions exceeding 60 per cent in nearly 3,000 polling booths in Bengaluru. The representatives were especially concerned about tenants, individuals who have moved for work or marriage, elderly voters, and those with minor errors on their forms.
Posting on X, Kharge said, “Representatives of Karnataka’s civil society called on Hon’ble @CMofKarnataka today and raised serious concerns over the ongoing SIR exercise. 1.09 crore voters are currently in the ASDDO list, while proposed deletions cross 60% in nearly 3,000 booths in Bengaluru. Tenants, people who have shifted for work or marriage, elderly voters and those with minor form errors are among those reportedly at risk of wrongful exclusion from the electoral rolls.”
The civil society representatives urged the Chief Minister to request an extension from the Election Commission of India and to conduct fresh door-to-door verification to ensure no eligible voter is wrongfully excluded.
Kharge added, “With no election due in Karnataka, there is no justification for rushing a process of this scale. They have urged the Chief Minister to seek an extension from the Election Commission of India, ensure fresh door-to-door verification and protect every eligible voter from wrongful exclusion. A formal representation in this regard was submitted to the Chief Minister by the civil society representatives.”
On August 8, the Election Commission of India extended the deadline for the SIR exercise in Karnataka, with the enumeration phase concluding on August 17. According to the new schedule, draft voter lists will be published on August 24, followed by the period for filing claims and objections from August 24 to September 23. The notice phase for resolving claims and objections will run from August 24 to October 22, with the final electoral rolls to be published on October 27.
This story is written by TNM Bureau with inputs from ANI. The News Mill is a Guwahati-based digital media with focus on content from across Northeast India and beyond. We can be reached through [email protected]