NDA seeks Governor’s intervention over FIRs linked to Form-7 applications

Bengaluru, Oct 6 : The political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JDS combine over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls intensified on Tuesday, with NDA leaders accusing the state government of misusing the police machinery against BJP workers over Form-7 applications.

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and other BJP-JDS leaders met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum seeking his immediate intervention in the registration of FIRs against BJP workers in connection with alleged misuse of Form-7 applications.

The NDA leaders alleged that the Congress government was deliberately using the police to intimidate BJP workers and others associated with the electoral roll revision exercise.

They maintained that the filing and verification of Form-7 applications fall under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission and questioned the state government's authority to initiate criminal proceedings merely on the basis of allegations relating to such applications.

“If there are irregularities in Form-7 applications, the Election Commission should examine them and take appropriate action,” the opposition leaders said, alleging that the government was unnecessarily turning an electoral process into a criminal matter.

The leaders claimed that no voter had been removed from the electoral rolls merely on the basis of Form-7 applications. They said the Election Commission has the authority to verify such applications, seek supporting documents and accept or reject them based on the available records.

The NDA leaders alleged that the registration of FIRs was being used to intimidate political workers. They accused the government of invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against those who had submitted Form-7 applications and termed the action an abuse of official power.

The opposition cited the FIR registered against Jayanagar MLA C K Ramamurthy and several others as an example of what it described as politically motivated police action.

The BJP-JDS leaders said they had already approached senior police officials and the Election Commission but claimed that the issue remained unresolved. They subsequently sought the Governor's intervention, alleging that the state administration was failing to act impartially.

The opposition also alleged that police stations were increasingly being used for political purposes and accused the government of misusing the administrative machinery against political opponents.

The NDA leaders urged the Governor to seek a detailed report from the police on the FIRs and the allegations raised by them. They also sought appropriate action against the government if the allegations of administrative misuse were found to be true.

Sources said the Governor indicated that he would seek an explanation from the Director General and Inspector General of Police regarding the FIRs and the allegations raised by the opposition leaders.