Bengaluru, 24 September (H.S.): Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for scrapping the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and conducting a fresh revision.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the right to vote was equivalent to the right to live. He said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were raising their voices to protect the voting rights of citizens.

He alleged that attempts were being made to misuse the voting rights of ordinary citizens for political purposes. Referring to West Bengal, Bihar and other states, he said similar attempts were now being made in Karnataka and elsewhere. He added that he had requested the Election Commission on Wednesday to provide more time.

Referring to differences among members of the Election Commission, Shivakumar alleged that the autonomy given to the poll panel was being misused. He said a decision could not be imposed unilaterally when a majority of members did not agree with an opinion and said the Chief Election Commissioner should voluntarily resign on moral grounds.

Shivakumar stressed that the issue was not about Congress or BJP votes but the voting rights of every citizen. He demanded that the ongoing SIR process be scrapped and a fresh exercise undertaken.

Referring to Forms 6, 7 and 8 used in electoral roll revision, he questioned the manner in which the current exercise was being conducted and alleged that it could particularly affect illiterate and disadvantaged sections.

“This is not merely a matter of opinion. It is a fundamental right and the voice of the common man,” he said.

The Chief Minister also called for a wider discussion on the issue, including in Parliament, and opposed any pressure or intimidation of officials in the name of the Election Commission.

“We want a fresh SIR to be conducted. Everyone should be given their rights. The situation must be reviewed comprehensively to ensure every citizen’s right to vote, and the electoral data must be re-examined,” Shivakumar said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa