Have Records on Form-7 Misuse, Will Expose Those Involved: Karnataka CM Shivakumar

Addressing the media in Delhi, Shivakumar said he would make the alleged irregularities public and claimed that some BJP leaders who recently approached the Governor were themselves linked to the alleged misuse.

He displayed what he described as fake Form-7 applications and claimed that a large number of such forms had been printed at the BJP headquarters.

“I have information and records. I will expose this and hand over all the information to the high command,” Shivakumar said, alleging that BJP leaders were involved in criminal activity.

He questioned the Opposition's reported demand against further investigations into the Form-7 issue, saying that resistance to a probe raised questions about those opposing it. Shivakumar said he would ensure that the alleged misuse was investigated.

The Chief Minister argued that poor and illiterate villagers could not reasonably be expected to understand the complexities involved in Form-7 applications and the process of seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls.

He said the state government had taken steps to ensure that vulnerable sections, including homeless people, were not left out of the electoral rolls. According to Shivakumar, authorities had been asked to provide a month's time for people to rectify details and ensure that eligible voters remained enrolled.

Shivakumar alleged that the misuse of Form-7 applications began in Bengaluru and later spread to other parts of Karnataka. He also criticised BJP leaders for approaching the Governor over cases registered in connection with allegedly fraudulent applications.

Questioning why the Governor had sought explanations from officials over cases filed against those allegedly involved, Shivakumar said the government had a responsibility to protect the voting rights of citizens.

“Is this not a crime? Is it not the duty of a Chief Minister to protect every vote of everyone?” he asked, adding that the government would protect the electoral rights of voters irrespective of their political affiliations.

He said this protection would also extend to BJP supporters if their names had been wrongly removed from the electoral rolls.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP of seeking to influence the electoral process instead of relying on public support to win elections, alleging that the party was attempting to use the election machinery and the Election Commission of India.

Shivakumar also questioned whether an elected government could remain inactive when voters were allegedly being affected by fraudulent applications. He said authorities had a responsibility to intervene when citizens' electoral rights were at stake, particularly in cases where living people were allegedly shown as dead in Form-7 applications.

He praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue, describing it as a matter concerning the country rather than merely the Congress party. Gandhi has separately raised concerns over electoral roll revisions and alleged voter deletions.

“Rahul Gandhi is doing a great job. It is not for himself and it is not for the Congress party. It is the country's biggest conspiracy. The right to vote is the right to live,” Shivakumar said.

Turning to the alleged irregularities in Karnataka, the Chief Minister claimed that attempts had been made to remove the names of more than one lakh voters and alleged that lakhs of Form-7 applications had been prepared systematically.

He further alleged that forms were printed at a BJP office and subsequently distributed to local party leaders with the names and addresses of minority, Dalit and backward-class voters. Shivakumar claimed that some local leaders used their identity documents and phone numbers while submitting the applications.

According to the Chief Minister, after the government became aware of the alleged irregularities and complaints were filed, some BJP leaders approached Booth Level Officers and withdrew certain Form-7 applications.

Displaying the forms, Shivakumar said they appeared to be computer-generated and contained detailed information, questioning whether ordinary villagers could have prepared such applications themselves.

“All the forms are printed and computerised. Will the villager be able to fill in these forms? Only minority names are targeted,” he alleged.

Shivakumar also claimed that large numbers of applications were subsequently withdrawn. He questioned the decision of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, BJP leaders R. Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayaswamy and other NDA leaders to approach the Governor seeking that cases and investigations related to the issue not be pursued.

He said the alleged attempt would have succeeded had authorities not intervened and claimed that the Election Commission had taken note of the matter and directed states to conduct a special campaign. The BJP, however, has disputed the Congress government's allegations and has criticised the registration of cases against people who submitted Form-7 applications, arguing that the form is a legitimate mechanism under the electoral roll process.

“The criminal act was supposed to happen and we stopped it. The Election Commission was convinced and wrote to all states for a special campaign,” Shivakumar said.

The allegations and counter-allegations come amid ongoing investigations and FIRs in Karnataka over suspected irregularities involving bulk Form-7 submissions.