Karnataka Congress protests target election chief and voter-roll revision

Congress members held demonstrations in Vijayapura and Belagavi on Monday, directing demands at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India. In Vijayapura, protesters burned an effigy of Kumar, sought his arrest and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The memorandum called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into decisions taken by the Chief Election Commissioner and demanded Kumar’s dismissal and arrest.

The protest was led by Minister M.B. Patil, who accused the Election Commission of operating under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Patil said Congress had been campaigning nationally over alleged “vote theft” and would continue raising the issue in Karnataka.

Patil also criticised what he described as bulk third-party objections filed by BJP workers against the inclusion of eligible voters in Vijayapura district. He said thousands of objections had been submitted, but that the district administration’s “transparent and impartial” work had prevented attempts to manipulate the process. The report does not include a response from the BJP or the Election Commission.

In Belagavi, Congress members marched from Sangolli Rayanna Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, carrying party flags and placards. They called for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls to be scrapped and sought an investigation into alleged irregularities in the revision process. Legislative council member Channaraj Hattiholi said Congress was concerned that eligible voters could be removed from the rolls.

He referred to reported discrepancies in the number of Form-7 applications linked to the revision in Karnataka and demanded a comprehensive review. The party also called for legal action against anyone found responsible for irregularities. The demonstrations formed part of Congress’s broader campaign to defend what its leaders described as the autonomy of the election authority and citizens’ right to vote.

The report records allegations and demands made by Congress leaders but does not establish that voter deletions or political interference occurred. It also does not report any immediate reaction from election officials or the BJP.