Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka handed over written assurance to the Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar ended the strike
Author, Imran Qureshi
Designation for BBC News Hindi
Published 1 October 2026, 20:44 IST
Updated 1 minute ago
Reading Time: 7 minutes
The Election Commission has finally agreed to the demand of Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to initiate action against the submission of forms to remove the names of voters from the voter list.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka submitted a signed statement to the Chief Minister, his cabinet members and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying that the process of initiating action against people associated with BJP and JDS who are trying to remove the names of voters in different parts of the state will be initiated.
"It has come to the notice of this office that a large number of cases of applications being filed in Form 7 have come to the notice of ERO. It is also alleged that such forms are not genuine," he said in a written statement.
According to him, "In this regard, it is directed that the concerned EROs will take action as per law against such applicants, who have knowingly made false statement or declaration in writing in the application/form (Form 6, 6A, 7 and 8) as per the provisions of Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Before taking such action, investigation will be conducted under Rule 20 of the Voter Registration Rules, 1960."
Earlier, Chief Minister Shivkumar surprised everyone by staging a protest at the CEO's office with his demands. He demanded registration of FIR against BJP and JDS leaders who submitted Form 7 to remove names of voters.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused many BJP and JDS leaders of trying to remove names of people from the voter list.
He is sitting on a dharna in the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbukumar in Bengaluru demanding registration of FIR against these leaders. V. Anbukumar was also present in his office.
Shivkumar had reached the CEO's office along with several ministers at around 2.30 pm on Thursday and after receiving the written assurance, he ended his protest.
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He had said that until an FIR is registered against those 'BJP and JDS leaders', he will not move from there.
He said that 'these leaders have stabbed in the back the democracy for which our Congress Party fought for the independence of the country.'
State Congress President BK Hariprasad said, "I have written seven letters to the Election Commission to seek information about the fraudulent methods adopted by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. Recently I raised this issue in Belagavi, where an MLA had written a letter to remove 2,500 votes through Form 7.
“We have no objection to anyone filing Form 7. Each BLO is allowed to give only 50 forms. But unfortunately, the forms submitted by BJP leaders are printed with names and EPIC numbers already printed on them."
Accused of distributing Form 7 on a large scale
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Shivakumar told reporters that 'an attempt was made to remove 10,000 to 15,000 votes' in the assembly constituencies where ministers from his cabinet win the elections.
He said, “BJP leaders have apologized and we have also presented their apology letters and letters withdrawing their requests to remove names of voters. We want to know which is the agency which printed the forms (Form 7) and distributed them."
He was talking to journalists after initial talks with the CEO.
He said, “We had not eaten. That's why CEO Mr. Anbu Kumar brought Rava Idli for us. I had called a cabinet meeting at 3 pm to discuss other matters. "It doesn't matter, we'll stay here."
BBC News Hindi has contacted CEO Anbu Kumar. Before the Chief Minister arrived, Anbu Kumar had promised to answer our questions. This news will be updated as soon as their reply is received.
Late in the evening, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also arrived to join Chief Minister Shivakumar and other cabinet colleagues.
'I will stay here until action is taken'
After the initial conversation with the CEO, Shivakumar came out and told reporters, “I will stay here until the Election Commission takes action. For this, deputy commissioners (election officials) should be asked to register FIRs and investigate how voters' names were systematically removed."
He further said that after consulting the Election Commission in Delhi, the CEO asked for two days' time.
"Later they said wait till tomorrow. I will wait here till action is taken. Now they have said they are waiting for the legal officer and the Election Commission wants to do a video conference with the deputy commissioners (who are also election officers)."
Shivakumar said, "BJP leaders have their own statements that they have been involved in this. Please do not take any further action and withdraw the form. This is what the BJP leaders have said."
Shivakumar said, "In Bellary, requests were made to remove more than 13,000 names. They gave the forms and then took them back. Similarly, there are 13,000 forms in Bijapur. Apart from this, in Babaleshwar too, where our minister MB Patil has won the elections, about seven leaders there have said, 'Please do not take action,' and return the forms."
Shivakumar said, "We have shown them all the documents from Mysuru, Bhalki and different parts of the state, including videos."
He said, "If I leave tomorrow, there will be pressure from different places - there is a big mafia behind this. How can this happen on a document which is confidential? I don't even know the EP numbers of my family members. Names, addresses and all other details have been printed and sent to all 224 assembly constituencies."
He said, "Our candidate lost by just 31,000 votes. This is the issue. That's why I can't leave it. I can't leave from here until I am satisfied with the action of the Election Commission."
"Therefore, they will have to allow the Deputy Commissioner to register criminal cases in all those cases where this has happened and also conduct an investigation. Now some voters have also lodged their FIRs."
Shivakumar said, "I will wait, wait, wait, until I get justice."
We have sought response from the Election Commission in this matter. We will include it in this copy as soon as we get their response
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also reacted to this entire matter.
He wrote on Twitter, "The whole country is angry against vote theft, but still see the shamelessness of BJP and Election Commission, how the same is being done openly. In Belagavi, Karnataka, a conspiracy was going on to erase the names of about 15 thousand voters in one stroke."
He further wrote, "In just three days - 22, 23 and 24 September - there was a flood of Form-7s to remove so many names from the voter list. And who is the target? Muslims, SC, ST and OBC, because most of them vote against BJP."
What did the BJP leader say?
BJP spokesperson S Prakash in Bengaluru has reacted to these allegations.
He said, "Form 7 can be filed by any person who feels that the voter is not genuine. This does not mean that his name will automatically be removed from the voter list."
"BLOs will definitely go there and investigate and they will be called for investigation."
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashok, told reporters that he found it strange that 'the same Congress party whose political legacy has been accused of electoral irregularities is protesting against the elections today.'
He said, "This same party and its Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were found guilty of electoral irregularities and she was removed from the post of Prime Minister."
He said, "Today you are criticizing the same electoral system. You come from a political legacy that corrupted the electoral system. You are its descendants. And today you are protesting and saying that the elections are not fair and there is fraud in the elections?"
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