D K Shivakumar Seeks Probe Into Pre-Printed Form 7s In Karnataka
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru, demanding a comprehensive investigation into the bulk submission of pre-printed Form 7 applications. Shivakumar alleged a large-scale conspiracy across more than 70 per cent of polling booths in Karnataka to disenfranchise genuine voters belonging to minority, backward, and Scheduled Caste communities. Specific constituency-level filings cited include about 3,000 applications in Belagavi North, 6,259 in Mudigere, 1,373 in Babaleshwar, 1,200 in Narasimha Raj, and 2,285 in Bhalki between September 22 and 24. Shivakumar claimed that local BJP figures and agencies distributed confidential voter data to party cadre to facilitate the bulk deletions. Three separate FIRs have already been registered in connection with the submissions.
Why it matters
The allegations directly threaten the electoral franchise of marginalized communities across Karnataka, prompting demands for immediate criminal investigations and stricter oversight by the Election Commission.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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