RSS, BJP concocted conspiracy to remove names of voters during SIR, says MLC

MLC FH Jakkappanavar at a press conference in Hubballi on Monday. | Photo credit: KIRAN BAKALE

MLC FH Jakkappanavar said that the RSS and the BJP hatched a conspiracy to erase the names of voters during the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) in 97 assembly segments in the state where the Congress has clear chances of victory.

Addressing a press conference in Hubballi on Monday, Mr Jakkappanavar said the Congress would not allow their ploy to succeed.

Clarifying that the Congress was not against SIR, he said there were some doubts about its implementation that still remained unclear.

Mr. Jakkappanavar said the BJP had planned to indulge in vote stealing through SIR on the lines of West Bengal and Bihar, but the Congress would not allow this to happen in the state.

On the BJP’s allegation that the enumeration forms are being filled en masse, Mr. Jakkappanavar sought to find out what was wrong with it.

“If the illiterates gather at one place and with the help of the literates fill the enumeration forms issued by the Election Commission of India, what is wrong with that? The ECI has not issued a directive saying that the enumeration forms should not be filled at one place,” he said.

To a query, he said that Congress workers and booth-level agents have been advised to properly inform voters about the SIR process and protect their voting rights.

Mr. Jakkappanavar also said that the time to complete the SIR is very short and cabin level officers are under pressure to complete their work within a month. They should have been given at least two months to complete the process, he said.

Responding to a query on the RSS, Mr Jakkappanavar defended Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s statement that it (the RSS) should get permission for its activities, including the march route, in the state.

“What’s wrong with taking permission? He didn’t say we won’t give permission. He said if you send an application we will verify. Is RSS exempt from taking permission? No. The law is the same for every individual, association and organization,” he said.

Published – 06 Jul 2026 20:31 IST