Karnataka BJP Leaders Meet DGP, Seek Review of Form 7 FIRs
Party leaders say submitting multiple Form 7 applications is not by itself a criminal offence and demand action based on evidence and due process.
Bengaluru: A delegation of senior Karnataka BJP leaders met Director General and Inspector General of Police M A Saleem on Saturday and urged him to review FIRs registered in connection with Form 7 applications filed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy were among those who met Saleem and submitted a memorandum. Several MPs, MLAs and MLCs were also part of the delegation.
The BJP alleged that its workers were being targeted through police cases following Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s protest at the Chief Electoral Officer’s office over alleged bulk filing of Form 7 applications. The party urged the police to ensure that cases arising from the electoral roll revision process are handled strictly according to law and based on evidence.
The party argued that Form 7 is a statutory mechanism through which voters can object to the inclusion of a name or seek deletion of an existing entry from the electoral roll. It maintained that filing multiple applications cannot, by itself, be treated as a criminal offence.
According to the BJP memorandum, criminal liability should depend on the conduct of individual applicants, including whether they knowingly submitted false information or used forged signatures or documents. The party also referred to the electoral roll guidelines and sought equal application of the law irrespective of political affiliation.
The delegation referred to cases connected with Form 7 applications in Bhalki in Bidar, Belagavi and Narasimharaja in Mysuru. The BJP asked the police to review such cases and ensure that any criminal proceedings are supported by evidence.
R Ashoka said submitting Form 7 is not a crime and argued that the Election Commission should determine the validity of voter objections through the prescribed electoral process.
The BJP also raised concerns over Form 7 applications containing applicants’ names, mobile numbers and signatures being circulated on social media and political platforms. The party sought an inquiry into how the documents became publicly available.
Yediyurappa warned of a statewide agitation if police continued taking legal action against BJP workers in connection with the Form 7 issue. Vijayendra also warned that the party would pursue the matter legally and consider protests if more cases were registered.
The BJP’s demand comes after Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukkumar directed election officials to initiate legal action against applicants who are found to have knowingly submitted false statements or declarations through electoral forms. The direction followed allegations of bulk and allegedly non genuine Form 7 applications seeking deletion of voters.
The CEO’s direction also states that an inquiry must be conducted before action is taken under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The BJP said it supports action against genuine violations but opposes what it describes as blanket criminal action against people merely for submitting Form 7 applications.