Congress in Karnataka playing double game over SIR of electoral rolls: Nitin Nabin

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 25, 2026: BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday accused the ruling Congress government in Karnataka of playing a “double game” over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Quoting Nabin, BJP MLC C. T. Ravi said the party chief had cautioned the state BJP unit against what he described as Congress’ “anti-Constitutional” statements regarding the SIR exercise.

“When Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh conducted SIR, it was acceptable. But when the BJP does it, Congress calls it wrong,” Ravi quoted Nabin as saying.

According to Ravi, Nabin alleged that the Congress had developed a “syndrome” of opposing everything undertaken by the BJP.

The BJP leader also accused the Congress of creating a negative narrative around the SIR process while allegedly conducting voter-mapping exercises through camps at the grassroots level.

Nabin further claimed that the Congress had previously “deleted” votes belonging to “G-L-B” communities — referring to Gowdas, Lingayats and Brahmins — in Bengaluru by identifying voters through surnames in electoral rolls, targeting communities perceived to be non-Congress supporters.

Caution against deletions

“If 20 names are removed in each booth, it amounts to a loss of nearly 4,000 votes in a constituency. Our booth workers and leaders should remain vigilant,” Ravi quoted the BJP chief as saying.

Nabin also criticised the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government, alleging that it had betrayed the trust of the people over the past three years.

He accused the government of neglecting public welfare due to internal power struggles and alleged that Congress leaders spoke against corruption even as ministers in their own government faced graft charges.

Referring to the Congress government’s guarantee schemes, Ravi said Nabin claimed that rising prices in the state had instead increased the burden on people.

“There is no guarantee of a better life today. The Karnataka government has become an ATM for Congress leaders in Delhi,” Ravi quoted Nabin as saying.

Later in the evening, Nabin paid a courtesy visit to Lok Bhavan and met Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.