CEO V. Anbukumar Clarifies Zero Deletions Under Form 7, False Objections Amid BJP-JD
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Amid intense political friction over allegations that party workers belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) attempted mass deletions from Karnataka’s electoral rolls, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbukumar has issued a categorical clarification confirming that not a single voter’s name has been expunged using Form 7. Addressing administrative concerns during the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the CEO dismissed fears of unauthorized disenfranchisement, emphasizing that all objection petitions received across assembly constituencies are undergoing multi-tier procedural scrutiny. Taking suo motu cognisance of an unusual influx of deletion requests, the poll panel chief has formally initiated an administrative inquiry into fraudulent representations while outlining firm timelines for final resolution.
Understanding the Form 7 Influx: 91,278 Objections Under Scrutiny Ahead of Oct 22
Administrative data highlights an unprecedented surge in deletion claims submitted during the intensive revision window:
Over 91,000 Deletion Petitions Received: Between June 16 and October 4, 2026, the Karnataka election authority recorded a total of 91,278 applications filed under Form 7, which serves as the statutory instrument for objecting to voter inclusions or seeking deletions from electoral rolls.
Claims Surge Beyond Initial Window: While 58,220 applications were registered by September 23—the formal closing date for initial claims and objections—thousands more flowed in subsequently, none of which involved objections against proposed fresh additions.
Final Hearings and Resolution Timetable: CEO V. Anbukumar affirmed that all pending Form 7 representations will be systematically adjudicated prior to October 22, 2026, with final field verification hearings scheduled to conclude by October 12, well ahead of the broader Election Commission deadline on October 13.
Probe into False Declarations: Following an extensive six-hour review with divisional election officials, Anbukumar stated that after identifying anomalous application spikes 7 to 10 days earlier, he ordered a comprehensive departmental probe into knowingly false written declarations submitted to manipulate rolls.
Legal Clarification on FIRs and Procedural Guidance for Registered Electors
Addressing rumors regarding police action and summons, the state electoral machinery provided crucial procedural safeguards:
No Official FIRs Filed by EROs: Clarifying the legal status of complaints, the CEO emphasized that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have not registered any police complaints yet, as the statutory seven-day notice period remains underway; existing FIRs were lodged independently by private individuals under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and remain sub judice.
No Mandatory Appearance for Citizens: V. Anbukumar assured the public that ordinary electors are strictly not required to appear physically before Electoral Registration Officers during hearings unless an officer explicitly flags discrepancies and requests physical presence.
Transparent Roll Handover to Recognized Parties: Upon the conclusion of the SIR exercise, all seven recognized political parties across Karnataka will be furnished with complete copies of the revised voter rolls, delivered as physical documents containing photographs alongside digital versions without photographs.
40 Lakh Notices Issued Over Mapping Discrepancies and Public Web Portals
The scale of the intensive revision process has placed millions of anomalous entries under systemic audit:
Over 40 Lakh Mapping Notices Dispatched: The election office revealed that more than 40 lakh statutory notices have been issued to voters cataloged under the 'no mapping' and 'demographic anomaly' segments to rectify residential and jurisdictional mismatches.
Public Publication on CEO Website: Responding directly to formal petitions submitted by recognized regional and national political outfits, the comprehensive roster of electors flagged under anomaly classifications has been made publicly accessible on the Karnataka CEO portal for cross-verification.
Commitment to Clean Rolls: Reaffirming institutional impartiality, the electoral authority reiterated that thorough physical cross-checks by booth-level officers (BLOs) ensure no genuine citizen loses voting franchise due to politically motivated objections.
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