Opposition parties in Karnataka on Monday met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Meena, demanding a fresh enumeration during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The meeting came amid allegations of irregularities in the ongoing revision process.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Enumeration Process
Leaders from the Congress, Janata Dal (Secular), and other opposition parties submitted a memorandum to the CEO, urging that the enumeration be conducted afresh. They argued that the current process lacks transparency and has excluded eligible voters.
Congress leader R. V. Deshpande said, "We have pointed out that many eligible voters have been left out, while ineligible names have been added. A fresh enumeration with proper verification is necessary."
CEO Assures Action
CEO Manoj Kumar Meena assured the delegation that their concerns would be examined. He stated that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are required to conduct mandatory door-to-door verification and personally verify the identity of each household member.
According to Meena, the SIR is being carried out as per Election Commission guidelines, and any discrepancies will be rectified. He urged political parties to cooperate in the process.
Background of SIR
The Special Intensive Revision is a periodic exercise to update electoral rolls. It involves adding new voters, deleting deceased or shifted voters, and correcting entries. The current revision has a deadline of July 15 for claims and objections.
Opposition parties have alleged that the revision is biased, with selective deletion and addition of names. They have threatened to escalate the issue if their demands are not met.
Political Reactions
JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy said, "The revision should be fair and transparent. We will not tolerate any manipulation of voter lists." He added that the party would approach the Election Commission if necessary.
BJP, which is in power in the state, defended the process. State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "The revision is being done systematically. Opposition is making baseless allegations to cover their incompetence."
The meeting ended with the CEO promising to address the grievances within a week.
