Karnataka CM in Talks with Citizens' Groups Over Voter Roll Revision

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held discussions with leaders of prominent citizens' groups in Bengaluru on May 8 over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, amid growing concerns about potential voter exclusions. More than a dozen representatives attended the meeting, raising alarms about the impact of the SIR exercise on electoral integrity in the state.

Congress leaders have pointed to the All India Trinamool Congress's defeat in West Bengal as a possible outcome of large-scale voter deletions during a similar revision, though the Karnataka government has not formally decided to oppose the SIR process. During a Cabinet meeting on May 7, ministers discussed the issue but took no decision on opposing the revision or overhauling it, as some groups demanded.

Siddaramaiah suggested the TMC's loss could stem from anti-incumbency or voter deletions, while representatives later met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other ministers with identical concerns. The ministers remained non-committal, stating decisions would follow further deliberations. Activists, including lawyer Vinay Sreenivasa, warned the SIR could lead to widespread disenfranchisement in Karnataka.

Campaign members urged the state to explore using paper ballots, establish legal and activist teams to challenge SIR implementation, and set up ward and panchayat-level help desks to assist voters. The government has not confirmed any of these proposals. The Election Commission is expected to proceed with the SIR unless legally challenged, and state officials indicated further internal discussions would precede any formal stance.