M.B. Patil accuses BJP of undermining universal adult franchise through SIR

Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil on Monday accused the BJP of undermining the Constitutional principle of universal adult franchise through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and alleged that bulk objections were filed against eligible voters in Vijayapura district before being withdrawn.

Speaking to reporters in Vijayapura, Mr. Patil said the SIR was ill-intentioned and charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were conspiring to dilute the "One Person, One Vote" principle guaranteed by B.R. Ambedkar. He said the BJP was depriving citizens of their right to participate in democracy, calling it a grave offence.

Mr. Patil said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was misusing the Election Commission of India and its officials, leading to chaos over electoral rolls across the country. He alleged that votes belonging to Opposition parties, including the Congress and the TMC, running into lakhs and crores, had been deleted. He urged the BJP to contest elections and seek the people's mandate instead of trying to snatch away the rights of eligible voters.

The Minister said the Congress had no objection to removing the names of the deceased, those with duplicate entries, or those who had migrated elsewhere, but would not accept large-scale irregularities committed to win elections by fraudulent means. He said it was clear the BJP had been winning elections through such tactics.

Mr. Patil sought action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of turning the apex electoral body into a one-person institution to help the ruling party. He said other election officials had raised objections to Mr. Kumar's decisions and conduct, and demanded his impeachment without delay, with an impartial and honest individual appointed in his place. He also sought a Supreme Court investigation into the matter.

Noting that elections are due in several States, including Karnataka, in the next 18 months, Mr. Patil said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had launched a major campaign against "vote theft" a few months ago and that recent revelations regarding Mr. Kumar had proven Mr. Gandhi's claims true. Congress leaders across the State have been protesting against the SIR process, he added.

On the ground in Vijayapura, Mr. Patil alleged that office staff of MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had filed bulk third-party objections under Form 7 against eligible voters. In his Babaleshwar constituency, he said, BJP workers filed objections against 1,634 voters on September 21 and withdrew them on September 23 after realising the law did not permit bulk objections. He named Bhimu Golasangi, Govinda Mudanur, and Anand Ambiger in this connection.

In the Vijayapura city constituency, Mr. Patil said the BJP submitted over 5,000 objection applications on September 22 and another 8,000 on September 23, only to withdraw them later. He identified the applicants as Rajkumar Biradar, Sachin Padaganur, Chandrashekhar Kavatagi, Mallanagouda Patil, Premananda Biradar, Girish Biradar, and Chandru Choudhary, all staff members from Mr. Yatnal's office. He thanked Deputy Commissioner and District Electoral Officer K. Anandh for performing his duties with transparency.

Mr. Patil said the Congress, under the leadership of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and with KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, would not allow anyone to snatch away the rights of eligible voters and would fight for justice till the end.