Congress asks its rank and file to be vigilant against voter wipeout ahead of SIR exercise in Karnataka

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other Congress leaders at a party conclave near Nandi Hills in Chickballapur district on Sunday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

With fears expressed that Congress voters would be targeted for Special Intensive Review (SIR) in Karnataka, similar to what was done in West Bengal where 27 lakh voters who were considered TMC supporters were wiped out, the Congress has asked its rank and file to remain alert when the exercise begins. While leaders have expressed concerns about the SIR and strategies were discussed at the conclave on Sunday, the state government is also likely to finalize its response to the SIR soon.

The party has urged its leaders to hold district-wise BLO meetings and section-wise assemblies, with careful coordination of the matter. Setting up a stand-level helpline was also discussed among the strategies.

The State Cabinet has already discussed the SIR in detail and considered access to justice. The government is expected to take the call after a conclave meeting titled ‘Congress’s Way to Protect Your Vote’ held on Sunday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Congress General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, Cabinet Ministers, legislators, former legislators and candidates who were defeated in the polls were present.

“Many things are happening regarding SIR. So we are working to create awareness about it. The poor and common people need to be told what SIR is. 50 to 90 thousand voters are removed in many states. SIR is also starting in Karnataka,” Mr. Shivakumar told reporters ahead of the conclave. “Once disenfranchised, people lose the benefits of government programs.

“From this point of view, the government has to provide the necessary documents to the people, which is the job of a responsible government. The Kerala government has done the same. BJP may have initiated SIR, but people will ask us.”

He said, “Lakhs of people have gone to Goa and many other places for livelihood. There will be a problem if they are not in their homes during the exercise.”

Concerns of Congress

With the Election Commission of India (ECI) starting the SIR exercise in Karnataka from June 20, covering over 5.5 million voters, the Congress believes the BJP has set its sights on Karnataka and targeted its West Bengal-like voter base, said a source who attended the special conclave on the outskirts of the city.

“The party believes that the BJP will bring the West Bengal model to Karnataka and target the Congress. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s failure despite her Supreme Court battle to bring back voters who were struck off the roll was also discussed. The SIR exercise conducted in other states also came up for discussion,” the source said.

The party believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Karnataka three times in the recent past and the current visit of BJP national president Nitin Nabin are related to the SIR exercise, the source said, adding that a large number of voters have already been detained after the mapping exercise.

Meanwhile, the conclave also looked into the preparations ahead of the elections to the five corporations of the Greater Bengaluru Authority region.

Published – 24 May 2026 21:58 IST