Form 7 row: K’taka CEO orders action against false voter-deletion claims after CM’s protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Oct 2, 2026: Ending a day-long standoff with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar on Thursday directed Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to take action against applicants who knowingly submit false claims seeking deletion of voters through Form 7.

The direction, issued after consultation with the legal department, came amid Shivakumar’s protest outside the CEO’s office, where he demanded FIRs against those allegedly involved in the bulk submission of Form 7 applications seeking deletion of eligible voters, particularly minorities and Dalits, from the electoral rolls.

The CEO said action could be initiated under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, against applicants found to have made false claims or objections.

The CEO’s office also directed that when Form 7 applications are submitted in bulk and are suspected to be non-genuine, the concerned EROs should conduct an inquiry before initiating action.

Shivakumar, accompanied by more than half a dozen Cabinet colleagues and Congress president B K Hariprasad, had refused to leave the CEO’s office until legal action was initiated. The Cabinet meeting scheduled for 3 pm was subsequently cancelled.

Shivakumar said the CEO had initially sought two days to examine reports from district election officers but maintained that sufficient evidence had already been submitted to warrant action.

“I will not shirk my responsibility. It is my bounden duty to protect the rights of every voter. I have taken an oath at Raj Bhavan and I cannot remain silent when the rights of voters are threatened,” Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister alleged that BJP and JD(S) leaders had, over the previous three days, submitted Form 7 applications in bulk, targeting between 3,000 and 15,000 voters in some constituencies. He alleged that pre-printed forms containing voters’ names, EPIC numbers and booth details had been distributed among party workers.

Shivakumar cited alleged incidents in Belagavi, where he claimed some Booth Level Agents (BLAs) withdrew Form 7 applications and submitted apology letters. He also alleged that 13,000 Muslim voters had been targeted in Vijayapura.

The Chief Minister had demanded that the Election Commission direct District Election Officers (DEOs) in all affected districts to register FIRs against those responsible. He alleged that the bulk applications were part of an attempt to delete another 50 lakh voters after publication of the draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad alleged that Form 7 applications were being printed and distributed among BJP and Sangh Parivar workers, claiming that some individuals had submitted hundreds of applications.

Hariprasad said the pre-printed forms containing voter details indicated that the applications had been prepared and distributed systematically.

Shivakumar said the question of who printed and distributed the forms was a separate matter and that the government would pursue it.

“Our state government has discharged its duty to protect the rights of every voter,” he said.

The Chief Minister had earlier said he would not “budge” unless legal action was initiated, describing the alleged bulk submissions as a threat to the Constitution.

The CEO’s direction brought the immediate standoff to an end. However, Shivakumar said the government would continue to pursue the issue and provide the documents required to protect voters who had received notices.