States » SouthPosted at: Oct 6 2026 1:27PM


Kumaraswamy questions Form-7 source, raises Siddhartha Vihar Trust issue; Priyank hits back

Bengaluru, Oct 6 (UNI) union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday intensified the NDA's attack on the Congress government over the alleged misuse of Form-7 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, questioning the source of pre-printed forms and raising the issue of the Siddhartha Vihar Trust.
Kumaraswamy, along with BJP and JD(S) leaders, had met Chief Electoral Officer V Anbu kumar and demanded that police be directed not to register cases against people merely for filing Form-7 objections. The NDA leaders alleged that police were being used to intimidate BJP workers and others participating in the SIR process.
Kumaraswamy also questioned how bulk, pre-printed Form-7 applications were being generated and circulated, bringing the Siddhartha Vihar Trust into the political controversy.
The issue assumes significance as the Siddhartha Vihar Trust is associated with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and his family, including Home Minister Priyank Kharge. A separate complaint concerning alleged irregularities in the allotment of a civic amenity site to the trust is before a special court, which has sought a response from the Lokayukta police. The Karnataka High Court, however, has clarified that it has expressed no opinion on the merits of those allegations.
Priyank Kharge hit back sharply at Kumaraswamy, questioning the JDS leader's knowledge of the affairs of the trust.
“You don't know what is happening in your own house and you claim to know what is happening in the Siddhartha Vihar Trust? First look after your own house and family,” Priyank said.
He warned Kumaraswamy against making personal or politically charged remarks, saying, “You are a senior leader. If you come and repeat whatever lessons the RSS has taught you, we will have to respond. It is not your stature and dignity.”
“Give us respect and we will give you respect. If you want to speak without maintaining dignity, we are ready,” he said.
The Home Minister also defended the registration of cases arising from complaints of alleged misuse of Form-7, saying the right to submit the form could not be treated as a licence to furnish false information.
“If a genuine voter is sought to be removed through false information, doesn't that voter have the right to defend himself and file a complaint?” he asked.
Priyank questioned the submission of thousands of Form-7 applications and sought an explanation from the opposition over bulk applications and pre-printed forms. He said complaints involving alleged manipulation of electoral rolls would be investigated in accordance with law.
The confrontation escalated further after NDA leaders threatened to intensify protests and lay siege to police stations if FIRs against their workers were not withdrawn.
Responding to the threat, Priyank said Karnataka would not permit such politics.
“If you say you will enter police stations, you know what I will do. This is not Uttar Pradesh. Keep your ‘I will enter, beat, hit and cut’ politics there. Whatever happens here, the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar will prevail,” he said.
The NDA has maintained that filing Form-7 is a statutory right and alleged that police were interfering in the SIR exercise. Kumaraswamy has sought directions from the CEO to protect those filing objections and prevent what the alliance described as arbitrary criminal action.
The controversy has now widened into a political battle over the source of bulk Form-7 applications, police action against those filing them and the alleged link to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, with the Congress defending the police action and the NDA demanding that FIRs against its workers be withdrawn.
The Election Commission has maintained that Form-7 applications are subject to verification and that no voter can be deleted merely because an objection has been filed. As of October 5, 91,278 Form-7 applications had been received in Karnataka, but no voter had been deleted through the SIR process on the basis of those applications.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Kumaraswamy questions Form-7 source# raises Siddhartha Vihar Trust issue; Priyank hits back
More News

Telangana: Congress spreading misinformation on electoral rolls: BJP

06 Oct 2026 | 2:34 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) BJP Telangana State President N Ramchander Rao accused Rahul Gandhi and INDIA bloc leaders of spreading misinformation about the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

see more..

ISB announces 250 annual scholarships, research platform on 25th anniversary

06 Oct 2026 | 2:29 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) The Indian School of Business (ISB) has announced a series of institutional initiatives, including 250 scholarships annually, a national research platform and a faculty development programme, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.

see more..

Cong survey's 50-55 seat projection behind SIR row: LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy

06 Oct 2026 | 2:03 PM

Bengaluru, Oct 6 (UNI) Claiming that an internal Congress survey has projected the ruling party at just 50-55 seats in the next Assembly elections, Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Tuesday alleged that the government had become “unsettled” over the prospect of a united BJP-JD(S) alliance and was using the SIR controversy to divert attention.

see more..

Indiramma Towers to be completed within one year: Ponguleti

06 Oct 2026 | 2:01 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 6 (UNI) Telangana Revenue, Housing and Information & Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the government would complete the construction of Indiramma Towers and hand over the houses to beneficiaries within a year.

see more..

Telangana: EC turned into BJP affiliate, alleges Ponnam Prabhakar

06 Oct 2026 | 1:46 PM

Karimnagar, Oct 6 (UNI) Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar alleged that the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is expected to uphold democratic values, was functioning like an affiliate of the BJP and that the names of eligible poor voters were being deleted from electoral rolls.

see more..