Form 7 row: Why the 224-seat probe matters to both EC, political parties

Students and members of civil society organisations protest SIR and CEC Gyanesh Kumar in BengaluruBengaluru: The controversy over alleged misuse of Form 7 applications in Karnataka has reached a point where neither the Election Commission nor political parties can afford to let competing claims remain unresolved. The inquiry ordered across all 224 assembly constituencies following a six-hour dharna by chief minister DK Shivakumar and his cabinet colleagues could determine whether the controversy was driven by genuine electoral irregularities, isolated misuse or a wider pattern.