ECI promised to examine complaints into SIR manipulation, says HD Kumaraswamy

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday assured an NDA delegation consisting of union ministers that the election commission (ECI) would examine the complaints of manipulation in the ongoing SIR enumeration in Karnataka, union minister HD Kumaraswamy said.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi (BJP) led the BJP team.

Kumaraswamy, who is also the JDS Karnataka president, said the NDA memorandum to the CEC highlighted serious irregularities in the SIR exercise.


“We placed before the Commission extensive documentary and video evidence showing enumeration forms allegedly being filled in bulk at community halls, anganwadis, convention centres and other locations instead of through the prescribed door-to-door verification process,” he said.

The unusually rapid completion of nearly 72% of the exercise within just six days was also brought to the Commission’s attention, the JDS leader said.

The NDA memorandum urged the CEC to order re-verification of all enumeration forms already collected, ensure mandatory door-to-door verification, appoint observers from outside Karnataka to oversee the SIR process in every district, and initiate strict legal and disciplinary action against officials and political functionaries found responsible for violating the prescribed procedures or facilitating these irregularities.

The delegation included union ministers V Somanna and Shobha Karandlaje, and Opposition leader R Ashoka, among others.