Shivakumar, who has been embroiled in election‑roll controversies for years, staged a sit‑in outside the CEO’s office on Thursday, demanding immediate action. He accused BJP and JD(S) leaders of filing more than 45 lakh Form‑7 applications between 22 and 24 September to delete names of minorities, Dalits and ST voters, citing districts such as Vijayapura, Bhalki, Belagavi and Bengaluru. The chief minister said that in Vijayapura alone, 13,000 applications were submitted over two days, many of them by BJP workers or staff linked to a BJP legislator.
The Election Commission has yet to respond publicly, while the BJP denied any involvement. Shivakumar noted that FIRs had already been registered in Belagavi, Bhalki and Mysuru for alleged illegal deletions, but he insists the EC must file a comprehensive criminal investigation.
In Vijayapura, 42‑year‑old Ramesh Kumar lost his voter card after 1,651 bulk applications were submitted by six individuals affiliated with the BJP. He is now fighting to get his name reinstated, arguing that the deletion was a targeted political attack.
Shivakumar has instructed the chief secretary to compile evidence and will personally hand the dossier to the EC, demanding a criminal inquiry into the alleged vote‑theft scheme. He threatened to stay overnight at the CEO’s office and skip the cabinet meeting if the order does not come.
The EC is expected to announce a probe by the end of the week, which could reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2024 elections. The outcome will determine whether the state steps in to protect voters or whether the alleged conspiracy remains unchallenged.