Hubballi Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginakai alleges that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is being mishandled. He says he will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India over the irregularities.

Key Takeaways

  • Booth Level Officers visited households only once instead of three times.
  • Over 22,000 voters are incorrectly marked as permanently shifted.
  • State Election Commission has taken no corrective action despite complaints.

Hubballi Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginakai told reporters on Monday that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is not being executed as per the Congress‑led state government’s directives.

He explained that the constituency has 266 polling stations, and each Booth Level Officer (BLO) is mandated to visit every household three times. "They have visited only once and then conducted the process while seated at their booths," he alleged.

Tenginakai also highlighted a glaring discrepancy: around 22,000 voters are shown as permanently shifted, even though earlier officials claimed enumeration forms had been distributed to all households. Such anomalies point to a large‑scale deletion of voter records.

Historical Background

The SIR mechanism was introduced in Karnataka in 2015 to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and curb fraud. Over the years, the process has been refined, yet implementation gaps at the grassroots level have persisted, prompting repeated calls for stricter oversight.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that lingering flaws in the SIR process could jeopardize the legitimacy of upcoming assembly elections, potentially undermining public confidence in the democratic system.

"Irregular changes to voter lists can swing election outcomes; therefore, SIR must be conducted with full transparency," says election scholar Dr. Rina Shetty.
Did You Know?: The first use of a SIR‑type exercise in India dates back to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What are the responsibilities of BLOs under the SIR process?
Answer: They must visit each household three times, verify details, and update the electoral roll accordingly.

Question 2: What recourse is available if the State Election Commission fails to act?
Answer: Officials like the MLA can file a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India.