Congress monitoring SIR in Karnataka to prevent deletion of eligible voters: Hariprasad
Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Tuesday alleged that the BJP is attempting to politicise the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and asserted that the Congress would closely monitor the exercise to ensure that eligible voters are not removed from the electoral rolls.
Addressing a press conference here at the KPCC office, Hariprasad said the party held discussions with candidates who contested and lost the 2023 Assembly elections to gather detailed information about the SIR process and developments in their respective constituencies.
“We have invited candidates who lost the 2023 Assembly elections and discussed SIR with them. They shared detailed information about the issues in their respective constituencies. We also discussed what needs to be done to provide drought relief in Kalyana Karnataka. Through this meeting, we want to draw the government’s attention to these issues,” he said.
Hariprasad said while several Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were cooperating with the process, there were also instances where some BLOs were not cooperating.
He expressed concern that a large number of voters whose names had been deleted from the electoral rolls belonged to weaker sections of society. “We will meet the respective district election officers and discuss the matter,” he said.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the SIR process so far, Hariprasad said the Congress was not opposed to the exercise itself.
“Our concern is that the names of eligible voters should not be removed from the electoral rolls. Having the right to vote is a fundamental right,” he said.
He urged eligible voters to ensure that they did not lose their voting rights and said the Congress was conducting its campaign even in constituencies where it did not have elected representatives.
“We are not against SIR. But we are in favour of ensuring that the process is carried out properly. Democracy stands on electoral rolls, and our fight is to protect them,” Hariprasad said.
He urged the Election Commission to provide application forms and adequate opportunities every Saturday and Sunday so that eligible voters could raise objections and protect their voting rights.
Turning to the BJP, Hariprasad launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, accusing him of corruption. “If there is a father of corruption in the country, it is Yediyurappa,” he alleged.
He also criticised the BJP-JD(S) alliance and alleged that leaders were now undertaking a padayatra after failing to achieve anything during their tenure. “BJP and JD(S) being together is actually good. Several groups should remain alive,” he said, taking a jibe at BJP leaders.
Former MLC Narayanaswamy and former mayor Ramachandrappa were present at the press conference.