“Those opposing SIR fear removal of bogus voters”: Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Yatnal accuses Congress of ‘vote theft’

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–> “Those opposing SIR fear removal of bogus voters”: Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Yatnal accuses Congress of ‘vote theft’ ANI | Updated: Oct 05, 2026 16:01 IST

Join our Whatsapp channel Hubballi (Karnataka) [India], October 5 (ANI): Expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Monday defended Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid Congress’ demand for his resignation, saying the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was helping clean up voter lists across the country.Speaking to reporters, Yatnal said that the CEC Kumar was working transparently and claimed that the SIR exercise had helped remove alleged bogus voters, including duplicate and deceased voters.”Those who are demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner are from the Congress party. Gyanesh Kumar, who is the Chief Election Commissioner of India, is working in a very transparent manner across the country. Whether it is Bangladeshis, Rohingyas or bogus voters in West Bengal, all of them have been removed,” Yatnal said.He claimed that the electoral rolls were being cleaned through SIR by identifying voters registered at multiple polling booths as well as names of deceased persons.”Through SIR, there are duplicate voters across the country, voters registered in three or four booths, and even those who have died are still on the voter list. Through SIR, the entire voter list for elections is being cleaned,” he said.The remarks come amid a political row over the Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu had recorded objections 14 times over key files in the last 10 months regarding decisions and procedures related to the SIR exercise and other electoral matters.Citing the Vijayapura Assembly constituency, Yatnal said the number of voters had come down after the revision.Yatnal added, “For example, in the Vijayapura Assembly constituency, there were around 2.25 lakh voters. After SIR, the number has come down to around 2.10 lakh. In the previous election, voting took place within this figure of 2.10 lakh. This is a clear message that SIR is cleaning the voter list.”Yatnal said voters who believed their names had been wrongly deleted could raise objections and submit forms for verification.”They can challenge it and say, ‘My vote exists, I have not died, my name is not registered in three or four booths, and I am a resident of Vijayapura.’ After submitting the form, there is a provision for the district magistrate or the concerned election officer to verify it and give a justification,” he said.The expelled BJP MLA also criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over their criticism of the Election Commission.”I want to ask Mallikarjun Kharge what has happened to him. He is speaking against the country. Gyanesh Kumar holds a constitutional position as the Chief Election Commissioner and is an invaluable asset for our country,” Yatnal said.He alleged that Congress was responsible for starting “vote theft” in India and referred to the Congress presidential election of 1946-47, claiming that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had received more support than Jawaharlal Nehru.”Vote theft was not done by Modi ji. Vote theft was not done by Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Morarji Desai. Congress is the party that started vote theft in India,” he said. (ANI)