Karnataka Chief Minister demands a criminal case and time-bound investigation into alleged bulk filing of Form 7 applications, citing thousands of applications in Ballari and Vijayapura and evidence from other constituencies.
Bengaluru, Oct 2026 : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday staged a dharna outside the Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru, demanding registration of a criminal case and a serious investigation into what he alleged was a conspiracy to delete eligible voters from electoral rolls through bulk filing of Form 7 applications.
Shivakumar, accompanied by several Cabinet ministers, MPs and legislators, met Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbukkumar and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate action into the alleged irregularities. He subsequently sat on the steps of the CEO’s office and said the protest would continue until the authorities initiated a criminal investigation.
Among those who joined the protest were ministers K.J. George, K.H. Muniyappa, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Basavaraj Rayareddy, Byrathi Suresh, Shivaraj Tangadagi and several other ministers and legislators.
Speaking before the dharna, Shivakumar said the Election Commission was a constitutional body and maintained that the state government respected its authority. However, he alleged that evidence submitted by the government pointed to irregularities in the filing of Form 7 applications.
“We have explained the irregularities taking place in the state. They have seen the evidence with their own eyes,” Shivakumar said, according to reports.
He claimed that around 13,000 Form 7 applications had been submitted in two Assembly constituencies in Ballari before being withdrawn. He also alleged that a similar number of applications had been submitted in Vijayapura, excluding Babaleshwar, and were later withdrawn with requests that no action be taken against those who had filed them.
The Chief Minister said the government had submitted documents and videos relating to constituencies including Mysuru, Belagavi and Bhalki. He said election authorities had sought reports from the respective Deputy Commissioners before proceeding further.
“If they do not trust the evidence we have submitted, let them call for the report. Our struggle will not stop until a serious investigation is ordered,” he said.
Shivakumar alleged that the disputed applications were part of an attempt to deprive eligible citizens of their voting rights. He described the alleged effort as “vote theft” and claimed that attempts had been made to remove voters on a large scale in constituencies represented by ministers.
He said protecting voters’ rights had taken precedence over a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday.
The Chief Minister also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) were involved in the alleged irregularities. These allegations have not been independently established, and the Election Commission was examining the complaints.
Shivakumar said the state government had cooperated with the Election Commission during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He also raised questions about how applicants allegedly obtained voter information, including names and Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers, on forms submitted in bulk.
Referring to the earlier controversy involving the Chilume organisation, Shivakumar alleged that electoral data may have been accessed and used in the present matter as well. He claimed that a wider network could be involved and alleged that attempts were made to target thousands of voters across Assembly constituencies.
The Chief Minister said the government had provided documents and videos to the election authorities and demanded that the source of the forms, the people who submitted them and the circumstances surrounding their withdrawal be examined.
The Election Commission subsequently directed election officials to inquire into false claims and objections submitted through electoral forms and initiate legal action where violations were established. The development came hours after Shivakumar and his Cabinet colleagues staged the protest.
The dispute has emerged amid the ongoing SIR exercise in Karnataka, with political parties raising competing concerns over the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. Shivakumar reiterated that his agitation would continue until the authorities took action on the allegations and ordered a detailed investigation into the disputed Form 7 applications.
