Union MoS Shobha Karandlaje urges ECI to intervene against Karnataka SEC’s ‘parallel’ electoral roll revision

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Friday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner seeking immediate intervention against what she termed a “parallel” Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls initiated by the Karnataka State Election Commission (KSEC) in Assembly constituencies falling within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

In her letter dated July 3, Karandlaje said that the Election Commission of India had already commenced the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across Karnataka under its notified schedule and constitutional mandate.

“It has come to my notice that, notwithstanding the ongoing statewide Special Intensive Revision undertaken by the Election Commission of India, the Karnataka State Election Commission has initiated a separate and parallel Special Intensive Revision process… with independent timelines and different cut-off dates,” she wrote.

The Union Minister argued that the parallel exercise could “create confusion among electors, political parties and election officials” and lead to inconsistencies in electoral rolls, thereby affecting the integrity of the electoral process.

Karandlaje further contended that the preparation and revision of Assembly electoral rolls fall exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, while the Karnataka State Election Commission’s role is limited to conducting local body elections.

“The Karnataka State Election Commission… has no independent authority to prepare or undertake a Special Intensive Revision of Assembly electoral rolls, which fall exclusively within the domain of the Election Commission of India,” she stated.

Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, Karandlaje said it had upheld the ECI’s authority to undertake the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, reinforcing its “exclusive constitutional mandate” to ensure a uniform and credible electoral roll.

She urged the Election Commission of India to “immediately examine the legality of the parallel Special Intensive Revision process” and issue directions to ensure “there is only one uniform Special Intensive Revision of Assembly electoral rolls under the supervision and control of the Election Commission of India”.

The minister also requested the ECI to direct the Karnataka State Election Commission to refrain from conducting any parallel revision of Assembly electoral rolls and instead adopt the electoral rolls finalised by the ECI for local body elections in accordance with the constitutional framework.

The Special Intensive Revision in Karnataka began on June 30, under which around 5.5 crore voters across the state will be verified through the exercise. (ANI)