00:00Now, let's talk about this special intensive revision and how it's playing out on the ground.
00:04In Karnataka, election officials have filed forms to delete over 61,000 names.
00:11These deletions, if approved, will be in addition to the 1.07 crore names removed during the enumeration phase.
00:19Earlier, it was reported that 1.28 lakh applications to delete names were filed in the month just before SIR
00:26started.
00:26Why are these bulk deletions taking place?
00:30Is Form 7 that allows these deletions to take place being misused?
00:35Sagairaj reports.
00:40The special intensive revision of electoral rolls is under scrutiny for deletions across the country.
00:52Latest data from Karnataka show 61,059 Form 7 applications for deletion of names were filed by poll officials.
01:01But these do not mention the reason for deletion, which is mandatory under rules.
01:05These forms are related to those who were issued notices over mapping and logical discrepancies.
01:12Over 1.07 crore voters were already deleted from the rolls during the enumeration phase.
01:19Earlier, it was revealed that bulk applications for deletions were filed even before the SIR kicked off.
01:28More than 1.28 lakh Form 7 applications to delete names were filed in the month preceding the enumeration exercise,
01:36according to a report in the Hindu.
01:38These included 45,878 applications submitted by third parties, accounting for 35.6% of all deletion requests received between
01:50May 14th and June 16th.
01:52Of the third party applications, 2,254 were bulk applications filed by just 102 objectors.
02:00Vasamma from Sindhanur filed 96 applications, the highest by an individual during the pre-SIR period.
02:08The applications by third parties cited death in 36,439 cases, while 6,775 cited absence or permanent shifting as
02:20the reason for seeking deletion.
02:21The data reveals a concentration of applications in North Karnataka.
02:26More than 28,000 applications were filed in just four Assembly constituencies, Bagalkot, Belegavi, Nautj Sindhanur and Nippanyi.
02:35The applications were filed before Booth-level officers began distributing SIR enumeration forms on June 30th.
02:42It is not known if names were deleted based on these applications.
02:47The Congress has demanded an investigation into third-party applications for deletions.
02:54And much before the SIR 1.25 lakh voters are being, you know, deleted or in the process of deletion
03:05by submitting the Forum 7,
03:07it is something absurd. How could this happen?
03:13The B.J.P. dismissed the Congress's criticism of SIR, arguing that the revision process is constitutional.
03:20Congress is simply making allegations that calling vote-shory.
03:28SIR taken place but nobody opposed it because it is a legal and actual process.
03:37Now, they wanted to make an allegation because they have no other subject to oppose.
03:46The big question now is whether the Election Commission will provide a detailed account of how these applications were received,
03:53verified and processed before the SIR enumeration exercise began.
03:59With Sagai Raj, Bureau Report, India Today.
