DC orders inquiry into BJP bulk voter objection allegations in Belagavi

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Mohammed Roshan has ordered an inquiry into allegations that BJP leaders tried to file bulk objections against eligible voters. The Congress has alleged that around 200 Form-7 applications were submitted at a polling station in Veerabhadra Nagar, targeting Muslim voters. The BLO refused to sign the forms, saying she had herself completed the mapping of those voters.

Roshan said no deletions were made and the objections lacked supporting documents. He clarified that bulk objections must follow ECI guidelines, and the ERO can file an FIR under the Representation of People's Act for false objections. Congress president BK Hariprasad alleged that BJP MLA Abhay Patil wrote to the EC seeking deletion of 2,500 minority voters, describing them as 'Pakistanis and Bangladeshis'.

Patil rejected the allegations, saying his letter only sought verification of a BLA report and removal of bogus voters after due process. The Congress plans to file a complaint with the EC on Friday. The SIR exercise in Belagavi has seen political tensions, with a clash between party workers at the same polling station on September 22.