With fears expressed over Congress voters being targeted in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Karnataka similar to what happened in West Bengal where 27 lakh voters, believed to be supporters of TMC, were deleted, the Congress has asked its rank and file to remain alert when the exercise commences. While fears over SIR were expressed by leaders and strategies were discussed at a conclave on Sunday, the State government is also likely to spell out its response to the SIR shortly.

The party has urged its leaders to hold BLO meetings district-wise and Assembly segment-wise, with careful coordination over the issue. Setting up of booth-level helpline was also discussed among the strategies.

The State Cabinet has already discussed the SIR in detail and has mulled over approaching the judiciary. The government is expected to take a call after the deliberations in the conclave named ‘Congress’s walk towards protection of your vote’ held on Sunday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala, Cabinet Ministers, legislators, former legislators and candidates who were defeated in the polls were present.

“Many things are happening with respect to SIR. That is why we are working to create awareness about it. The poor and common people need to be told what SIR is. In many States, 50 to 90 lakh voters are being removed. The SIR is beginning in Karnataka as well,” Mr. Shivakumar told reporters before the conclave. “Once the voting right is lost, people will lose benefits of government schemes.

“From this perspective, the government must provide people with necessary documents, which is the work of a responsible government. The Kerala government did the same. BJP may have initiated SIR, but people will question us.”

He said, “Lakhs of people have gone to Goa and many other places for livelihood. There will be a problem when they are not in their homes during the exercise.”

Congress’s fears

With the Election Commission of India (ECI) starting SIR exercise in Karnataka from June 20 covering over 5.5 crore voters, the Congress believes that the BJP has set its eyes on Karnataka and targeting its voter base similar to West Bengal, said a source, who attended the special conclave on the city’s outskirts.

“The party believes that the BJP will bring West Bengal model to Karnataka and will target Congress. The failure of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite her fight in the Supreme Court to bring back the voters who were deleted into the list was also discussed. The SIR exercise conducted in other States also came up for deliberations,” the source said.

The party believes the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Karnataka thrice in the recent past, and the current visit of BJP national president Nitin Nabin is connected to the SIR exercise, the source said, adding that a large number of voters had already been kept out after the mapping exercise.

Meanwhile, the conclave also deliberated over preparations ahead of the elections to the five corporations of the Greater Bengaluru Authority region.