Over 1.28 Lakh Deletion Requests Filed Before Karnataka Electoral Roll Revision

More than 1.28 lakh Form-7 applications seeking name deletions from electoral rolls were filed in Karnataka during the month just before the special intensive revision started. Third-party applicants filed 45,878 of these requests, making up 35.6% of all deletion applications received between the announcement on May 14 and the freezing of rolls on June 16.

Bulk Filings and Reasons

Out of the third-party requests, 2,254 were bulk applications filed by 112 objectors who each submitted at least 11 forms. Basamma from Sindhanur filed 96 applications, which was the highest number in the pre-revision period, with 84 targeting electors in a single polling booth. Hanamant Calavadi from Bagalkot filed 62 applications targeting one polling station. For the reasons given in these third-party forms, 36,439 applications cited death, while 6,775 mentioned that voters were absent or had permanently shifted.

Constituency Breakdown

At least 28 Assembly constituencies saw more than 1,000 Form-7 applications filed before enumeration began, and 20 of these segments are represented by the Congress. Over 28,441 applications were concentrated in just four constituencies, namely Bagalkot, Belagavi North, Sindhanur, and Nippani. Barring Nippani, the other three are held by the Congress. District-wise, Belagavi led with 38,713 applications, followed by Bagalkot with 13,889 and Raichur with 10,454.

Official Responses

Assistant Electoral Registration Officers confirmed that these applications were accepted before enumeration started and processed after the mandated one-week period, though they were unaware of the bulk filings. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V. Anbu Kumar stated that pending forms were processed until June 16, 2026, and accepted on the basis of records, though he did not clarify if targeted electors received notices or if names were deleted before enumeration.

Context

Form-7 is a standard election commission document used to object to an existing name or seek deletion from voter lists on grounds such as death, shifting, or duplication. Electoral rolls undergo revisions before major polls to clean up errors and ensure accurate voter lists for fair elections.