BLOs organised SIR rally, Karnataka govt trying to create IDs for illegal immigrants: Kumaraswamy

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jul 3, 2026: Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday alleged serious irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, accusing the Congress government of interfering in the Election Commission’s voter verification process.

Addressing a press conference, Kumaraswamy released videos purportedly showing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting voter verification at a community hall in Ramanagara and in Kunigal, instead of carrying out the mandated door-to-door verification. He alleged that the state government had "hijacked" the electoral process.

The JD(S) leader claimed that the Congress government was attempting to facilitate identity cards for alleged illegal immigrants in Ramanagara. He alleged that between 8,000 and 10,000 Bangladeshis had gathered at a community hall where BLOs were distributing and collecting voter enumeration forms. He urged the Election Commission and state election authorities to investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible.

Kumaraswamy further alleged that more than 25 lakh Bangladeshi nationals had been living in Karnataka over the past four to five years under the protection of the Congress government. He said he would also raise the issue with the Union Home Minister.

He accused officials of assembling voters at a single location for the SIR process, arguing that it defeated the objective of conducting an intensive house-to-house verification.

The Union minister also criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for urging people to cooperate with the SIR exercise. According to Kumaraswamy, the Congress government was creating fear among voters by suggesting that those left out of the electoral rolls could lose benefits under the state’s five guarantee schemes.

Echoing these allegations, Nikhil Kumaraswamy urged the Election Commission to immediately suspend the SIR exercise in the Ramanagara Assembly constituency. He also called on the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer to directly supervise the process, sought the suspension of the BLOs involved, and demanded legal action against officials if any violations were established.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) legal cell submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission alleging multiple violations of SIR guidelines. The party claimed that BLOs distributed and collected enumeration forms at a community hall in Tippunagar, reportedly linked to a local ward councillor, instead of visiting individual households. The alleged violations were reported in polling stations 90–92, 101–108 and 114 of the Ramanagara Assembly constituency. The party submitted photographs and videos in support of its claims.

The complaint also alleged that similar practices were occurring in other polling stations across Karnataka. It further accused election officials in Ramanagara of conducting the exercise in the presence of Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) while excluding representatives of JD(S) and other recognised political parties.

BJP leaders also demanded strict action over the alleged violations. C. T. Ravi shared purported videos on social media, questioning whether the SIR exercise in Ramanagara was being reduced to a "mockery" by violating Election Commission rules. He said the SIR process was intended to ensure that only genuine voters remained on the electoral rolls and fake entries were removed.

The JD(S) has sought a detailed inquiry into the allegations, replacement of the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) of Ramanagara Taluk until the investigation is completed, deployment of a special state-level monitoring team, and fresh instructions to all AEROs and BLOs reiterating that door-to-door voter verification is mandatory.