Karnataka voter roll revision: Congress builds grassroots presence amid BJP criticism
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka has become a political flashpoint, with the ruling Congress party taking proactive steps to mobilise voter enrolment while the opposition BJP and JD(S) have raised allegations of electoral manipulation.
The Congress has established over 54,000 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) — a previously non-existent grassroots infrastructure — to assist with voter registration. It has also conducted mass enrolment drives and announced the issuance of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) by the state government. The PRC is one of 12 documents accepted by the Election Commission (EC) for verifying an elector's place and date of birth during the SIR process.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, shortly after assuming office, referred to the deletion of lakhs of voter names during similar exercises in other states and urged party workers to protect the right to vote. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B K Hariprasad described the SIR as a "second Independence movement" to ensure no eligible voter loses the franchise.
The state government's June 29 order outlines a framework for PRC issuance, requiring verification that an applicant is a genuine and permanent resident of Karnataka. Eligibility criteria include birth in Karnataka, 10 years of residence by parents or guardians, 10 years of schooling in the state, ownership of residential property, or government records such as electoral rolls, Aadhaar, ration cards, and land records.
The BJP has accused the Congress of attempting to protect illegal immigrants and its vote bank through the PRC. State BJP president B Y Vijayendra called the move a "devious strategy." Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking intervention to halt the PRC introduction.
Responding to the criticism, Hariprasad accused the BJP of using the issue to divert attention from its failures. The Congress maintains that the PRC is merely a facilitation measure consistent with EC guidelines.
The EC has stated that the SIR is being carried out as per its directions. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar assured on July 8 that the exercise follows EC protocols.
The last intensive revision of electoral rolls in Karnataka was conducted in 2002. After the first round of the current SIR, 5.08 crore voters were mapped to the 2002 list, leaving about 46.5 lakh voters to be verified. The EC extended the SIR deadline by two weeks, with enumeration now due by August 8. The draft list will be published on August 17, objections can be filed until September 16, and the final rolls will be released on October 19.
The Congress has also emphasised that voters risk losing welfare guarantee schemes if they do not clear the SIR, a message aimed at sustaining its support base.
