Bengaluru, 3 July

Karnataka CEO V Anbukkumar on Friday directed Booth Level Officers to visit houses and distribute enumeration forms for the SIR as per the EC’s guidelines after complaints from parties such as the JD(S) alleged that the BLOs were handing out the forms from mosques and other locations. 

“As per the directions, guidelines and schedule issued by the Election Commission of India, distribution of enumeration forms to voters began in Karnataka on 30 June. However, some complaints have been received alleging that BLOs are not visiting houses and are distributing the forms from offices,” Anbukkumar said in a letter to all district election officers. “You are hereby instructed to… strictly adhere to the ECI’s directions and guidelines.”

He said that voters who find it difficult to fill out the enumeration forms have the option of visiting Voter Facilitation Centres for assistance, and that this facility should be publicised.

The house-to-house enumeration phase of the SIR in Karnataka, which commenced on 30 June, will continue till 29 July.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday alleged massive irregularities in the SIR exercise and posted videos of exercises being conducted at a community hall in Ramanagara and in Kunigal in apparent violation of the ECI’s directions.