Bengaluru, 15 May

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday charged that the SIR of electoral rolls was being rolled out to "cut" SC, BC and minority votes. But the Congress in the State will ensure that they are "protected".

The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced the rollout of phase-3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in 16 states and three Union Territories involving 36.73 crore voters in a phased manner beginning 30 May. Karnataka is among them, and the final voters' roll for the State will be out on 7 October.

“We are educating all the party leaders. Across the party line -- let BJP and JD(S) also secure all their votes," the KPCC President told reporters in the City. "It's (SIR) aim is to see to it that the Scheduled Caste, backward class and the minority votes are cut. But we will see that it is protected. Everyone born in India should have their right."

"In Karnataka, 88 to 90 per cent has been mapped (mapping of electors). But still we will try to educate all of them," he added.

Last week, a section of leaders met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and urged the Congress not to allow the "undemocratic and unscientific" SIR.