Dharwad: BJP state president BY Vijayendra on Tuesday accused chief minister D K Shivakumar of politicising the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to divert attention from what he alleged were the Congress govt’s failures in financial management, farmers’ welfare and governance.
Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said State Election Commission er Anbukumar had clarified that voters’ names would not be immediately deleted merely on the basis of Form 7 applications. Vijayendra said BJP had demanded compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for distressed farmers. Because of SIR, describing SIR as a mandatory electoral exercise, Vijayendra cited Congress MP Shashi Tharoor ’s statement that Congress had come to power in Kerala. Vijayendra alleged that the Congress govt was facing a financial crunch due to its five guarantee schemes and had failed to fill around 2.5 lakh vacancies across departments.
He questioned Shivakumar’s allegation that the Election Commission was deleting names of Ahinda voters, terming the charge a “smear campaign”. He also accused home minister Priyank Kharge of misusing the police machinery to register FIRs against BJP workers and said the party would seek legal recourse.