Karnataka CM Joins INDIA Bloc Challenge Against Election Commission

Shivakumar alleged that BJP members systematically filed lakhs of Form 7 applications in Karnataka to purge voters from specific communities, a tactic he claims was previously utilized to secure electoral victories in West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Haryana. He described the current revision process as a betrayal of democratic rights, calling for a return to paper ballots to ensure systemic integrity.

The Supreme Court petition, led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and ten other senior leaders, demands full transparency from the Election Commission. The filing seeks access to internal files, meeting minutes, and digital access logs regarding the June 24, 2025 decision to initiate the revision. Petitioners are calling for an independent audit of all deletions and modifications conducted through the ECINET and ERONET systems, overseen by a retired Supreme Court judge.

Beyond administrative transparency, the legal challenge insists that the Election Commission must provide notice and a fair hearing before any name is struck from the electoral rolls. The petition impleads Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, arguing that the current revision process violates both the 2023 law governing the commission and the constitutional standards established in T.N. Seshan vs Union of India.