BJP MP Govind Karjol on Thursday accused the Congress party of opposing the revision of voter lists in Karnataka, alleging that the opposition party fears electoral defeat. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Karjol said, "Why should voter list revision not be done? The Congress is opposing it because they are scared of losing elections."
Congress's shifting stance on electoral processes
Karjol criticised the Congress for its inconsistent position on electoral integrity. He recalled that during the 2019 general elections, Congress leaders had questioned the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), demanding a return to paper ballots. Now, he said, the party is opposing measures to clean up voter rolls. "First they doubted EVMs, now they don't want voter list revision. Their only goal is to create confusion and avoid a fair fight," Karjol added.
Background of the voter list revision controversy
The Election Commission of India had recently announced a special summary revision of electoral rolls in Karnataka, with the final publication scheduled for January 2026. The revision aims to delete duplicate entries and include eligible voters who have turned 18. However, Congress leaders have raised concerns that the exercise could be used to disenfranchise certain communities, particularly minorities and Dalits. They have demanded a halt to the process until a thorough review is conducted.
Karjol dismissed these concerns as baseless. "The revision is a routine process conducted by the Election Commission. There are safeguards to ensure no genuine voter is removed. The Congress is only creating a ruckus because they know they cannot win on merit," he said.
Political implications for Karnataka
Karnataka is scheduled to go to polls in 2028, but political parties are already gearing up. The BJP, which is in power in the state, has been pushing for a clean voter list, while the Congress has accused it of trying to manipulate the rolls. The standoff has led to several protests and counter-protests in the state capital.
Political analyst N. S. Srinath said the issue could become a major flashpoint in the coming months. "Voter list revision is a technical matter, but it has become highly politicised. Both parties are using it to mobilise their support bases," he noted.
Congress's response
Congress state president D. K. Shivakumar hit back at Karjol, saying the BJP was trying to divert attention from its failures. "Instead of worrying about the voter list, the BJP should focus on unemployment and price rise. We are only demanding transparency in the revision process," Shivakumar said. He added that the Congress would approach the Election Commission with evidence of alleged irregularities in the draft rolls.
The Election Commission has maintained that the revision is being carried out as per rules and that any complaints will be addressed through the established grievance mechanism.
