Karnataka Minister Accuses Election Commission of Manipulating Voter Lists

Shobha Karandlaje, the Union Minister of State, has leveled serious accusations against the Karnataka State Election Commission (KSEC), claiming that it has conducted a 'parallel' Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area to appease Rahul Gandhi. She has called for a comprehensive revision of the voter lists across Karnataka. Karandlaje mentioned that she has sent two letters, one addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, urging immediate intervention regarding the changes being made to the voter lists in the assembly constituencies under GBA.

She stated, 'I have written two letters. There are two SIRs in 27 wards under GBA. Why is the State Election Commission conducting SIR here? They are doing this in three areas of GBA to please Rahul Gandhi.' The minister asserted that the purpose of the SIR is to remove names of illegal immigrants, deceased individuals, and ineligible voters from the list. She further noted that this is the first SIR in 20 years aimed at cleaning up the voter list. Discussions around Bengaluru have highlighted that only 50 percent of voters actually cast their votes.

Karandlaje accused the Karnataka government of preparing a new 'illegal' voter list, alleging that Congress leaders are facilitating the inclusion of illegal immigrants in the voter rolls. She claimed, 'The state government is set to create another illegal voter list. Your officials are unlawfully adding illegal voters to the list. Congress leaders have made Bangladeshis citizens here. Illegal immigrants are being registered as voters based on verbal orders from the Chief Minister. BLOs are being deployed in mosques to include illegal names in the voter list, violating election commission directives.'

She also accused the state of issuing birth certificates and permanent resident certificates illegally to facilitate this process. Karandlaj stated, 'You are providing birth certificates unlawfully at various cyber centers in Karnataka. You have announced that you will issue permanent resident certificates to those born in Karnataka. We have all the documents here. So, who are you planning to give these certificates to? You are bringing these certificates to register people from Bangladesh as voters. You are preparing to give these certificates to Bangladeshis to win the next election.'

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