The Karnataka state government maintains its commitment to holding elections for Bengaluru's five municipal corporations by June 30. This deadline follows a Supreme Court directive. However, serious concerns about electoral roll integrity now threaten to push the polls back once more.
Opposition Raises Alarm Over Voter Lists
The principal opposition party, the BJP, has sounded a major alarm. They allege illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have been included in voter lists, particularly in areas like Kogilu Layout. The party demands an immediate investigation into these claims.
Formal Complaints Filed
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, the opposition leader in the legislative council, has taken formal action. He has written letters to multiple authorities. These include the Election Commission of India, Karnataka's chief electoral officer, and the Union home minister.
In his letters, Narayanaswamy cites specific instances. He claims alleged infiltrators have secured official Indian documents. These documents include voter ID cards, Aadhaar cards, and ration cards. He describes the situation as deeply alarming.
Demands for Investigation and Action
Narayanaswamy has made two key demands. First, he seeks an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Second, he insists the final voter list should only be published after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
He has issued a clear warning. The BJP will pursue both legal and political action if these demands remain unmet.
"Congress recently talked about 'vote chori' (vote theft)," Narayanaswamy stated. "Here we have a clear case of it. The state government has allowed illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to infiltrate the voter lists."
He challenged previous government assertions. "The governing party insisted no Bangladeshi infiltrators existed in Kogilu or elsewhere. We have found solid evidence proving that claim wrong," he asserted.
Allegations of Widespread Fraud
The allegations extend beyond voter lists. Narayanaswamy claims suspected infiltrators possess other documents. These include Indian driving licenses and even national identity cards issued by the Bangladesh government.
He made a staggering claim about the scale of the problem. He alleged approximately 20 lakh (2 million) fake voters exist within Greater Bengaluru's limits.
"What is the point of holding elections if the voter list is corrupt?" he questioned. "If the government is sincere about free and fair polls, it must clean up the list first."
BJP's Position on Election Timing
BJP functionaries clarify their stance. They state they have no intention of deliberately holding up the elections. They believe the voter list can be cleaned within a month. An NIA investigation could proceed simultaneously, they argue.
The Government and Election Commission's Response
The rules delineate clear responsibilities. The state government handles ward delimitation and reservation to facilitate elections. In contrast, the preparation of electoral rolls falls under the State Election Commission (SEC).
The government has completed the delimitation work. It has issued a reservation notification and is currently inviting public objections. A final notification will follow after considering these objections.
SEC's Revision Process
The State Election Commission has already started revising the voter list. It aims to complete this process by March 16. A draft voter list will be published on January 19.
A window for objections, additions, and deletions will remain open until early March. This allows for public scrutiny and correction.
State Election Commissioner HS Sangreshi addressed the concerns. He confirmed the commission has noted complaints from the BJP and others.
"There is no cause for concern over the voter list's integrity," Sangreshi stated. "The process to clean it up is already underway. Any individual, including booth-level agents from political parties, can file an objection if they spot a discrepancy. They have time until early March."
BJP Remains Skeptical
Despite these assurances, the BJP remains unconvinced. N Ravikumar, the BJP chief whip in the legislative council, expressed deep skepticism about the standard revision process.
"Errors will never be rectified by a normal revision," Ravikumar argued. "Suspected fake voters would simply produce Aadhaar cards and other credentials to justify their inclusion. Only an NIA probe and a Special Intensive Revision will deliver justice."
The stage is set for a tense period in Bengaluru's civic election preparations. The state government pushes for timely polls. The opposition demands rigorous checks. The Election Commission works on its revision timeline. The integrity of the electoral roll now stands as the central issue determining whether Bengaluru votes on time.
