CM asks officials to protect voters’ rights during SIR

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday asked senior officials to work towards protecting the voting rights of people during the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State.

In his maiden meeting with senior officials, the new Chief Minister sought to highlight the role to be played by officials in protecting the voting rights during the SIR process and asked them to set up SIR help desks.

“No one should lose their voting rights in the SIR,” he said, asking officials to create awareness on the process.

Pointing out that there may be a need for voters to provide documents to defend their voting rights, Mr. Shivakumar told officials to help such persons to get the required documens.

Expressing concern that lakhs of people had lost their voting rights in the SIR in various States, barring Kerala where political parties and officials were vigilant, he said such a situation should not arise in Karnataka.