Probe into allegations of BJP trying to file bulk objections against eligible voters in Karnataka

Mohammad Roshan, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer (DEO), has ordered an inquiry into allegations by Congress leaders in Karnataka that some BJP leaders were trying to file bulk objections against eligible voters in Belagavi. He also held a meeting with representative of political parties, following the allegations.

“The Elector Registration Officer (ERO) will conduct an inquiry and submit a report. Action will be taken against anyone who is found guilty of any violation,” he told reporters here on Thursday.

“We have told the political parties that the Election Commission of India had issued several guidelines and safeguards to protect the rights of eligible voters. The issue has been resolved after they understood the rules and regulations,” he said.

On Wednesday, Aman Sait, youth Congress leader and others, had alleged that BJP leader Ravi Patil and others were involved in filing third-party objections in bulk, against inclusion of names of Muslim voters in Veerabhadra Nagar.

Mr. Sait had alleged that Mr. Patil had used staff from his hospital to fudge documents and impersonate Belagavi city corporation officials.

The Deputy Commissioner said that as per the ECI rules, there was nothing wrong in anyone filing objections against any inclusion, during the period of review. “However, all such objections have to follow the ECI guidelines and safeguards. The ECI has clearly barred frivolous and false objections. In case of frivolous objections, bulk objectors are warned and asked not to submit such documents in future. In case of knowingly false objections, the ERO has powers to file an FIR under section 31 of the Representation of People’s Act. There is a limit to bulk objections by voters and Booth Level Agents (BLAs). There is a clearly established procedure about such objections,” he said.

“When anyone files an objection under Form 7, the burden of proof is on the objector. He has to submit proof of his claims. Secondly, if the number of objections are more than two percent in each booth, then the ERO should hold an inquiry into it and submit a report to the DEO,” Mr. Roshan said.

“A Booth Level Officer cannot accept bulk objections from any person. They need to be scrutinised at the level of the ERO or Assistant ERO. However, a BLA can collect and submit up to 10 objections per day. Deletion of names is not easy. It has to be made after giving a seven-day notice to both the objector and the voter and a ground level inquiry by the ERO. No deletions were made on the basis of the bulk objections filed on Wednesday. We have made this clear to parties,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

“In Wednesday’s incident, the BLO did not have the power to receive the bulk objections. Unfortunately, he did not know about the rules, and that led to the confusion. The ERO, who has gone through all the bulk objections, has clarified that the objections were not backed by any supporting documents. The issue has been resolved at the level of the preliminary inquiry,” Mr. Roshan said.