Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday challenged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to substantiate his allegation that the BJP was involved in a conspiracy to delete around 50 lakh voters from Karnataka’s electoral rolls. Vijayendra said Shivakumar should provide evidence to support the charge and demanded his resignation if he failed to prove the allegation.What did D.K. Shivakumar allege about voter deletion?The dispute follows Shivakumar’s allegations over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls in Karnataka. On Thursday, the Chief Minister accused the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) of being involved in an alleged attempt to remove the names of eligible voters through multiple Form 7 applications.Shivakumar claimed that around 50–60 lakh additional voter names were being targeted for deletion. He alleged that pre-filled Form 7 applications containing voter details, including names, addresses and EPIC numbers, had been submitted to Booth Level Officers. These claims have been made by the Chief Minister and remain subject to investigation. The Chief Minister also cited examples of large numbers of applications in constituencies including Babaleshwar, Bhalki, Vijayapura, Ballari and other areas. He demanded an investigation and criminal action against anyone found responsible for submitting false or fraudulent applications. What is the Karnataka BJP saying?Responding to the allegations, Vijayendra challenged Shivakumar to establish the claim that the BJP had conspired to delete around 50 lakh voters. The Karnataka BJP president said that if the Chief Minister could not substantiate the allegation, he should resign from his post.The BJP's response shifts the focus from the political allegations to the evidence behind the claimed number of voters. The party has rejected the allegation of a conspiracy, while the Congress-led state government has called for scrutiny of the applications and action against those found to have violated electoral procedures.What action has the Election Commission taken?The controversy has emerged during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Karnataka. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, V. Anbukkumar, has directed Electoral Registration Officers across all 224 Assembly constituencies to initiate legal proceedings against applicants who knowingly submit false declarations or claims concerning electoral-roll changes. The Election Commission has also sought reports from district authorities regarding allegations surrounding bulk submission of Form 7 applications. Reports said that FIRs had been registered in connection with alleged attempts to seek voter deletions in different parts of Karnataka. What happens next in the voter deletion row?The immediate issue is whether the allegations concerning bulk Form 7 applications are supported by evidence and whether any applications were submitted using false information. Election authorities are expected to examine the complaints and reports from the districts before determining further action.The political dispute is likely to continue as the electoral-roll revision proceeds. Shivakumar has demanded a detailed investigation into the alleged attempts to remove eligible voters, while Vijayendra has asked the Chief Minister to prove the allegation against the BJP. Any legal or administrative action will depend on the findings of the relevant election and investigating authorities
