K’taka BJP alleges Congress govt in SIR irregularities

Bengaluru, July 4 (IANS) Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President B.Y. Vijayendra on Saturday alleged that the state government was facilitating the misuse of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by exerting pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and violating the Election Commission’s prescribed procedures.

He was speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to the Election Commission of India seeking corrective action over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.

“We have brought these issues to the notice of the Election Commission. The Commission should issue a warning to the state government, and wherever such irregularities have taken place, the SIR process should be conducted afresh,” he demanded.

Vijayendra claimed that the state government was misusing officials to influence the electoral roll revision. He said that under the Election Commission’s guidelines, Booth Level Officers are required to conduct house-to-house visits and distribute Enumeration Forms. However, he alleged that instead of following the prescribed procedure, BLOs were being made to distribute forms from Kalyana Mantapas, choultries and mosques.

“We have urged the Election Commission to take action against these violations,” he said.

Vijayendra further alleged that in some places, MLAs were making BLOs work from their constituency offices and exerting pressure on election officials.

The BJP leader also alleged that alongside the Election Commission of India’s statewide SIR exercise, a parallel SIR process was being conducted by the State Election Commission within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), creating confusion among voters.

“The state government has undermined the very objective of the SIR exercise. In Jayanagar Assembly constituency, forms being distributed carry photographs of Congress leaders. We have brought this to the Commission’s notice,” he said.

According to Vijayendra, the Election Commission had already taken serious note of the reported irregularities and had conducted a video conference directing officials to strictly adhere to the prescribed procedures. However, he alleged that the directions were not being followed.

“The Commission has responded to our complaint and has assured us that corrective measures will be taken,” he added.

Launching a sharp attack on the Congress, Vijayendra alleged that Congress workers were responsible for the misuse of the SIR process.

“The Election Commission of India is functioning properly, but Congress workers are attempting to derail the entire system. They are spoiling the SIR exercise,” he alleged.

He further claimed that in some places Congress workers had forcibly taken SIR forms from officials and distributed them themselves.

“If BLOs are made to sit in MLAs’ offices instead of carrying out field verification, the purpose of the exercise is defeated. Congress workers are pressuring officials and misusing the administrative machinery,” he alleged.

Bengaluru South District BJP President and MLA C.K. Ramamurthy also alleged irregularities in the SIR process in the Jayanagar Assembly constituency. He said complaints had been submitted to both the Election Commission and the Greater Bengaluru Authority regarding the alleged violations.

“BLOs are distributing application forms at locations of their choice. Officials found guilty of dereliction of duty should be suspended, and the SIR process should be repeated wherever such irregularities have occurred,” Ramamurthy demanded.

–IANS

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