Karnataka CM launches PRC drive to step up voter enrolment, BJP flags misuse concerns

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday launched a statewide drive to issue permanent resident certificates (PRCs) to eligible residents to facilitate voter enrolment as the Election Commission of India's (ECI) special intensive revision (SIR) gathers pace.

The government also rolled out doorstep delivery of caste certificates, with both documents carrying photographs of Shivakumar and Deputy CM G Parameshwara.

A PRC is among the 11 documents accepted by the ECI as proof of ordinary residence for inclusion in the electoral rolls. The state government has authorised deputy tahsildars to issue the certificates.


Launching the programme despite objections from the BJP, Shivakumar described it as the first initiative of its kind in the country. Karnataka aims to make PRCs available to about 4.85 crore voters, he said, adding that the government was implementing the ECI’s guidelines in letter and spirit.

"This is an apolitical exercise aimed at ensuring that every eligible voter has the required documentation," the CM said at a joint press conference with Parameshwara.

Under the caste certificate initiative, district administrations will print and deliver certificates to beneficiaries after receiving digitally signed PDF copies from the Revenue Department. A dedicated mobile application has been developed to capture Aadhaar details, mobile numbers and digital acknowledgements upon delivery.

Beneficiaries can also download caste certificates free of cost through the government's portal using the certificate's RD number, ration card number or Aadhaar number. The facility will also be available at government service centres.

According to Shivakumar, around 57 lakh caste certificates have already been linked to beneficiaries' mobile numbers, with download links sent through WhatsApp and SMS.

Shivakumar said applications for PRCs were available online, at service centres and at hobli-level facilitation centres. He argued that exclusion from the electoral rolls could also affect citizens' access to welfare schemes, describing the initiative as a step towards safeguarding voting rights.

The BJP, however, expressed its opposition, alleging that the Congress government was creating an avenue for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to obtain PRCs using forged documents and secure inclusion in the electoral rolls instead of identifying and deporting them.

The ECI has extended the SIR enumeration exercise until August 8. Draft electoral rolls will be published on August 17, while the final rolls are scheduled for release on October 19.