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Congress leaders in Shivamogga urged voter awareness during electoral roll revision to ensure no eligible citizen loses voting rights.
CH NEWS
Shivamogga
Congress leaders in Shivamogga have urged party workers to create awareness among citizens to ensure that no eligible voter loses their voting rights during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking at a voter list revision workshop organised by the district Congress committee, Legislative Council member Balkish Banu said that every citizen must verify their inclusion in the voter list and take necessary steps to avoid disenfranchisement. She stressed that party workers should actively guide voters through the verification process.
Banu alleged that attempts were being made to influence the voter list and cautioned against any negligence that could lead to exclusion of minority and backward class voters. She said that failure to obtain acknowledgment receipts from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) could result in voters losing their eligibility, and therefore awareness was crucial.
She also pointed out that objections and corrections to the draft electoral roll could be filed between August 5 and September 4, urging citizens to make full use of this window to rectify errors or omissions.
District Congress president R. Prasannakumar said the voter list revision process is essential for strengthening democracy but must be monitored carefully. He added that Congress workers and BLO assistants would help citizens ensure their names are correctly included in the electoral rolls. He also cited concerns raised in other states, claiming large numbers of voters were affected by similar processes, and stressed that such issues should not arise in Karnataka.
Alepati Nigama chairperson G. Pallavi emphasized the importance of voter awareness and suggested setting up helplines to assist citizens with registration and corrections. She noted that even minor discrepancies in names could lead to loss of voting rights.
Former municipal councillor H.C. Yogish criticised the SIR process, alleging it could be misused to weaken democratic participation, and called for coordinated efforts to help voters protect their rights.
The workshop saw participation from several district Congress leaders and party functionaries, who reiterated the importance of voter awareness and assistance at the grassroots level.
