Bengaluru: Union minister HD Kumaraswamy Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with Karnataka chief electoral officer V Anbu Kumar’s assertion that there were no large-scale irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.Kumaraswamy said he had noted the CEO’s statement that the SIR exercise was not conducted in groups. He said he, along with Union minister Pralhad Joshi, had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission backed by evidence alleging irregularities in the revision process.“We have submitted documentary evidence showing that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was carried out in groups in several places, including Ramanagara and Yeshwanthpur. If the SIR process was conducted properly, why notices were issued to 35 Booth Level Officers (BLOs)?” Kumaraswamy questioned.His remarks came a day after Anbu Kumar rejected allegations of irregularities and maintained that the SIR exercise was being conducted strictly in accordance with Election Commission of India guidelines. He had announced that the EC has sisued notices to 35 BLOs for various voilations.BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Radhamohan Das Agrawal also objected to the alleged mass filling of SIR enumeration forms at religious places and locations identified by Congress leaders, calling the practice inappropriate. “Enumeration forms are being filled collectively at religious places and at locations suggested by Congress leaders. This is not the correct procedure,” Agrawal said, alleging that the Congress was trying to politicise the exercise.He said the BJP had complained to the Election Commission that Booth Level Officers were not distributing forms through mandatory door-to-door visits. “The Election Commission has clearly instructed BLOs to distribute the forms by visiting every household. We have raised this issue with the Commission,” he said.
