Form 7 deletions: CM DK Shivakumar, ministers and MLAs stage sit-in-dharna outside CEO’s office

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday, October 1, staged a sit-in at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru, demanding an FIR and a criminal investigation into the alleged bulk filing of Form 7 applications to delete voters from electoral rolls.

Shivakumar, accompanied by several Cabinet Ministers and Congress leaders, met Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar and submitted a memorandum seeking an immediate and time-bound investigation. He began the sit-in on the steps of the CEO’s office after the meeting.

The Chief Minister alleged that pre-printed Form 7 applications containing voters’ names and EPIC numbers had been submitted in large numbers in several constituencies during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Form 7 is used to seek deletion of a voter’s name from the electoral roll. Shivakumar alleged that the forms were being used to target voters from minority, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and backward-class communities. 

He said between 50 lakh and 60 lakh additional voters could be targeted, and demanded that the Election Commission trace where the forms were printed and who supplied them

In his memorandum, Shivakumar sought a constituency-wise and booth-wise investigation into unusually high numbers of Form 7 applications, particularly those filed between September 22 and 24. He cited around 3,000 applications in Belagavi North, 6,259 in Mudigere, 2,285 in Bhalki, 1,373 in Babaleshwar and 1,200 in Narasimha Raja.

He also sought an investigation into the source of pre-printed voter information, including names and EPIC numbers, and whether electoral data had been accessed or used without authorisation.

The memorandum called for scrutiny of people who submitted unusually large numbers of objections, their relationship with the voters concerned and applications that were returned by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). It also sought an investigation into claims of political coordination or facilitation in the filing of the applications.

Shivakumar alleged that BJP and JD(S) leaders and workers were involved in the bulk submissions. He cited statements allegedly made by BJP workers and leaders acknowledging that Form 7 applications had been filed through their associates. The allegations are part of the material submitted by Shivakumar to the CEO.

The Chief Minister said documents had been submitted showing that some people who filed the forms later sought that action not be taken against them, while some BLOs had allegedly said they were forced to sign certain documents.

“Some of our cabinet ministers, our party president, working president, and all of us came here. We explained everything to them, showed them Form 7, showed who signed them, and showed that some people have even admitted to it,” Shivakumar said.

He said the government had also submitted documents and videos from constituencies including Mysuru, Belagavi and Bhalki.

According to Shivakumar, several FIRs had already been registered in connection with complaints over the Form 7 applications. He demanded that the Election Commission itself initiate criminal proceedings wherever electoral offences were found.

The Chief Minister said he had been told that officials needed more time to examine the material. He said a video conference with Deputy Commissioners and BLOs had been scheduled for 5 pm on Thursday and insisted that he would remain at the CEO’s office until he was satisfied that action was being taken according to law.

“They asked for two days’ time, and I said that won't do. Now they've come down to asking for one day, and I said even that won't work,” Shivakumar said.

He said protecting voters’ rights was more important than attending the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

“As the Chief Minister of this state, it is my responsibility to protect the votes of all citizens and voters,” he said, adding that he would protect the votes of BJP supporters as well as those of other citizens.

The Chief Minister also referred to TNM’s investigation on the Chilume Trust voter data theft case in Bengaluru, where a private NGO had allegedly collected voter data covertly by deploying field agents who posed as election officials.

"Earlier, they committed irregularities through the Chilume organisation. Now, when those who submitted these Form 7 applications are questioned, they say they don't know anything and that these applications came to them from the BJP office and leaders. Therefore, we will not give more time," he said.

Shivakumar said he would remain at the CEO’s office until he received an assurance that the matter would be investigated. “Until I get the satisfaction that under the law I am providing protection to the people through our struggle, I will stay right here,” he said.