Shivakumar Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation, Seeks Fresh SIR in Karnataka

Bengaluru, September 24 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday intensified the political dispute over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and calling for the ongoing exercise to be scrapped and conducted afresh.

Shivakumar’s demand came amid reports of differences within the three-member Election Commission over issues related to electoral rolls, voter registration and deletion of names. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi have reportedly raised objections on several occasions concerning decisions on electoral-roll management.

Speaking on the issue, Shivakumar said the reported differences within the poll panel raised serious concerns about the conduct of the revision exercise and the protection of citizens’ voting rights.

“Today, in the democratic system, two out of the three members have expressed their disagreement. The right to vote, which is meant to protect every individual and their livelihood, has today been compromised,” he said.

The Chief Minister called for the present SIR exercise to be abandoned and a fresh revision undertaken after a comprehensive review of electoral data.

“We want a new SIR to be conducted. We want everyone to have their rights,” he said, adding that the matter should be debated extensively, including in Parliament.

Shivakumar also urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to step down, arguing that decisions should not be imposed when there are differences among members of the constitutional body.

“When the voices are not accepted and the majority decision has not been upheld, he can't take decisions. It would be better if the Chief Election Commissioner voluntarily resigns on moral grounds,” he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that more than one crore names had been deleted from Karnataka’s electoral rolls for various reasons. He said the state’s voter list should first be finalised before any further action is taken and reiterated his demand for additional time for the revision process.

He also raised questions over the use of Forms 6, 7 and 8 during the revision exercise, expressing concern over their possible impact on illiterate and disadvantaged sections of voters.

The Congress has alleged that 1.07 crore names were removed from Karnataka’s electoral rolls during the SIR process and that notices were issued to around 43 lakh voters. These figures are allegations made by the Congress and have not been independently established.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that differences of opinion and observations are a normal part of institutional deliberations and that its orders over the past year were based on decisions of the full Commission. The poll panel has also maintained that its decisions relating to the nationwide SIR were unanimous.

Shivakumar said the issue should not be viewed through a political or party-specific lens, but as a matter concerning the voting rights of every eligible citizen.

“The right to vote is the right to live,” he said, stressing that the electoral-roll revision process must ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of the right to vote.

The Chief Minister’s latest demand marks a further escalation in Karnataka’s dispute with the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and adds to the wider political debate surrounding electoral-roll revision.