Chief Minister D K Shivakumar denied allegations of government interference in Karnataka’s Special Intensive Revision
July 6, 2026: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday rejected allegations that his government was interfering in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying the entire exercise was being conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission of India (ECI). His remarks came after BJP and JD(S) leaders submitted a complaint to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer, alleging large-scale irregularities in the revision process and demanding a fresh door-to-door verification of voter records. Shivakumar maintained that the Election Commission should independently investigate all allegations.
The Chief Minister said the Congress government was cooperating with the Election Commission to ensure that every eligible voter could protect their voting rights, despite having reservations about certain aspects of the SIR process. He said the government had only created awareness by setting up help desks and assisting citizens in obtaining documents required for voter verification. According to him, officials involved in the revision were working strictly under the Election Commission’s directions, while political parties were free to appoint Booth Level Agents to support the exercise.
Responding to the Opposition’s claims that the Congress government was facilitating the inclusion of illegal immigrants in electoral rolls, Shivakumar dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He questioned why the BJP had failed to act against illegal immigrants during its tenure in power and accused the Opposition of attempting to create fear among minorities and economically weaker sections. Reaffirming his government’s commitment to protecting voting rights, Shivakumar said the Congress would continue to assist citizens throughout the SIR process while leaving the Election Commission to examine all complaints.