IndiaPosted at: Oct 1 2026 7:38PM


Rahul Gandhi alleges bid to delete 15,000 Belagavi voters, demands FIR against those responsible

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that an organised attempt was under way in Karnataka’s Belagavi to remove around 15,000 names from the electoral rolls through a large-scale filing of Form 7 applications, and demanded an FIR and action against those responsible.
In a post on X, Gandhi said a “flood” of Form 7 applications had been submitted over three days — September 22, 23 and 24 — with the alleged objective of getting nearly 15,000 voters deleted from the rolls. He claimed that Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes were particularly being targeted, alleging that a large section of these communities traditionally votes against the BJP.
“Pura desh vote chori ke khilaaf gusse mein hai — magar phir bhi BJP-EC ki besharmi dekhiye kaise khuleaam wahi kiye ja rahe hain,” Gandhi said, alleging that the attempt in Belagavi involved seeking the deletion of nearly 15,000 voters “in one go”.
Gandhi linked the alleged episode to his earlier claims that electoral-roll manipulation was being facilitated through centralised software and automated processes. He alleged that “selective” voters were being targeted through bulk filing of Form 7 applications and claimed that the process was being carried out in a coordinated manner and controlled from above.
Form 7 is the prescribed mechanism through which an objection can be raised against the inclusion of a name in an electoral roll or a request made for deletion on specified grounds, including death, permanent shifting, duplicate enrolment or lack of Indian citizenship. The filing of a Form 7 application does not by itself result in automatic deletion, as electoral authorities are required to examine and verify the objection before taking a decision.
The allegations have surfaced amid an escalating political controversy in Karnataka over the alleged bulk submission of Form 7 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. In Belagavi, Congress leaders had earlier alleged that around 200 Form 7 applications seeking deletion of voters’ names were brought to a polling station and that two persons attempted to pressure a Booth Level Officer into signing them. The BLO reportedly refused, saying she had already completed the mapping of the voters concerned. Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan said no voter had been deleted on the basis of those objections and that complaints concerning bulk objections would be examined.
The controversy has also involved BJP MLA Abhay Patil, who had sought scrutiny of around 2,598 voters in Belagavi North whom he described as doubtful. Election officials rejected the request for bulk scrutiny or deletion while maintaining that Booth Level Agents could submit individual objections through the prescribed procedure. Patil has denied seeking wholesale deletion of voters and said his demand was for verification of those whose credentials he questioned.
The matter took another turn after Belagavi Market police registered an FIR on September 30 against BJP functionary Ravi Patil and others over an alleged attempt to have the names of 198 voters deleted through Form 7 applications containing allegedly forged documents and false information. The allegations are under investigation.
Gandhi said Karnataka Congress leaders were at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer seeking an FIR against those allegedly responsible and questioned why the CEO was refusing to register one.
“CEO is FIR se mana kyun kar rahe hain?” Gandhi asked.
The Congress leader also reiterated his broader criticism of the Special Intensive Revision, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar were acting together through the exercise to undermine democratic processes. Gandhi described the alleged conduct as “deshdroh” and demanded an investigation into Modi and Shah.
He also repeated his demand that Gyanesh Kumar resign and “become an approver”, while calling for an investigation into Modi and Shah.
The Belagavi episode comes against the backdrop of a wider political confrontation over the revision of electoral rolls and the safeguards governing additions and deletions. Opposition parties have raised concerns that bulk objections could result in genuine voters being disenfranchised, while election authorities have maintained that names cannot be deleted merely because a Form 7 objection has been filed and that prescribed verification procedures have to be followed. The controversy over the number and handling of Form 7 applications in Karnataka has also fuelled demands for greater transparency in the electoral-roll revision process. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Rahul Gandhi alleges bid to delete 15#000 Belagavi voters# demands FIR against those responsible
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