Karnataka Pratirodha protests against SIR tomorrow

Members of SIR Virodhi Jatyatita Pakshagalu-Janapara Sanghatanegala Okkuta T. Bheemaraya and Mahantappa Sanghavi addressed a press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI

SIR Virodhi Jatyatita Pakshagalu-Janapara Sanghatanegala Okkuta has on Saturday called for a nationwide protest under the Karnataka Pratirodha banner against the Election Commission of India’s (SIR) special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

At a press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday, Okkuta members Bheemaraya Tegalathippi, Mahantappa Sanghavi, Lakshman Mandalgera and Renuk Singh said that the ongoing voter verification may lead to exclusion of a large number of eligible voters from the electoral rolls.

Mr Tegalathippi clarified that they are not against revising the electoral rolls or removing ineligible voters, but are against a “complicated and exclusionary” process that unduly burdens ordinary citizens.

He claimed that voters are asked to submit several documents to prove eligibility, and that even small discrepancies in names, addresses or dates can lead to deletion from voter rolls.

Mr Mandalgera said the process would disproportionately affect married women, migrant workers, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and economically weaker sections of society.

Noting that many people work outside their birthplace, the organizers demanded at least a six-month period for appeals, corrections and verification.

Okkuta also expressed concern over the reported use of “logical inconsistency” software tools in voter verification and sought greater transparency in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

Their key demands include withdrawal of the SIR process, public scrutiny of draft voter lists through Gram Sabhas and Ward Sabhas, and making voter lists available in machine-readable formats to ensure transparency in additions and deletions.

Okkuta members urged the state government to intervene and ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote due to procedural difficulties or lack of documents.

They said that as part of the statewide Karnataka Pratirodha campaign, protests and public awareness programs will be held across Karnataka on Saturday.

Also in Kalaburagi, Okkuta will organize protest demonstrations and an awareness drive to inform citizens about their voting rights and the possible impact of the SIR exercise on ordinary voters.

Published – 28 May 2026 21:16 IST