Bengaluru: The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has turned into a high-stakes political battle, with BJP and JD(S) coordinating at the grassroots in several areas, while Congress has activated its party network, govt machinery and allied organisations.As the door-to-door verification phase gathers pace, political parties are leaving little to chance by deploying booth level agents (BLAs), volunteers and support groups to assist people with documentation and monitor the revision process.JD(S) members say the party has been working closely with BJP in constituencies where NDA has a strong presence. In places where BJP has a smaller base, JD(S) workers have helped ensure supporters of both parties are not affected during the revision.“For instance, in Sira, there was strong objection as the BLO was taking along only Congress BLAs. So, BJP and JD(S) joined hands and objected to the decision,” said a JD(S) functionary.KA Thippeswamy, former JD(S) MLC, said there was no formal understanding on appointing BLAs, but admitted workers of both parties were coordinating locally.Meanwhile, Congress has mobilised its frontal organisations and allied groups to help people secure documents required during the verification exercise. “Our frontal organisations keep in direct touch with tahsildars and coordinate with voters to procure permanent residency certificates wherever required,” said GC Chandrashekar, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress functionary.He said “the second war room by an allied NGO is also funded by Congress which will help the party cover ground independently.”Dalit Sangarsh Samiti (DSS), which is working alongside Congress on the issue, said it has sent its own volunteers to SC, ST and other vulnerable localities where many people fear their names could be deleted. “While we are discussing and talking with the Congress govt on ways and means to ensure that this exercise does not snatch voting rights of eligible voters, we have sent our own workers to places where the governing party cannot reach,” said DSS activist Indhudhar Honnapura. Honnapura said that in his own locality he was unable to trace Congress-appointed BLAs and was relying on DSS volunteers to assist people during the exercise.
