Kharge questions NDA leaders over bulk Form-7 applications

BENGALURU, Oct 6 : Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday questioned NDA leaders over their objections to FIRs registered in connection with the alleged misuse of Form-7 applications, asking them to explain the rationale behind submitting thousands of applications seeking deletion of names from electoral rolls.

Reacting to the NDA leaders' decision to approach the Governor over the issue, Mr Kharge said filing Form-7 was a legitimate right, but maintained that voters whose names were sought to be deleted also had the right to defend themselves and lodge complaints.

"Form-7 is your right. But if a genuine voter is being removed from the electoral roll through false information, doesn't that voter have the right to defend himself and file a complaint?" he asked.

Mr Kharge questioned the submission of large numbers of Form-7 applications and sought an explanation from opposition leaders on the basis on which such applications were being filed.

"Why are 5,000, 7,000 or thousands of Form-7 applications being submitted? Why are they being submitted on party letterheads? Let them explain how many applications they are submitting and why," he said.

He said the matter should be explained to both the Governor and the Chief Electoral Officer.

"Let them explain to the Governor. Let them explain to the CEO. What exactly is their expectation? Can they do whatever they want?" the Home Minister asked.

Mr Kharge also rejected the argument that submitting Form-7 was an absolute constitutional right, saying voters whose names were targeted for deletion also had a constitutional right to object.

"If someone is a genuine voter and an attempt is made to remove his name through false information, isn't it his constitutional right to object? If a voter says, 'I am alive, why are you removing my name?' is it wrong for him to file a complaint?" he asked.

The remarks came amid a political dispute between the ruling Congress and NDA parties over allegations concerning Form-7 applications submitted for deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls.

Mr Kharge said political parties had every right to raise objections through the prescribed electoral process, but questioned the rationale behind submitting thousands of applications and subsequently seeking their withdrawal.

He also sought an explanation from NDA leaders over applications allegedly submitted on party letterheads and asked them to clarify the purpose behind such bulk submissions.

The issue has triggered a political exchange between the ruling Congress and the opposition, with NDA leaders approaching the Governor over the FIRs. The state government, meanwhile, has maintained that complaints involving alleged manipulation of electoral rolls should be dealt with according to law.