BJP tells Karnataka Chief Minister prove Form 7 allegations or quit

BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra addressing mediapersons on the Form-7 controversy, in Bengaluru on October 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should prove his allegations that the BJP had misused Form-7 applications to seek the deletion of eligible voters from electoral rolls,” BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra said on October 2. He demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation if he fails to do so. 

“We (BJP) will not be afraid even if 1,000 FIRs are filed against us. We will fight the cases in court,” Mr. Vijayendra said, accusing the Chief Minister of attempting to turn Karnataka into an ‘FIR State’.

On October 1. Mr. Shivakumar, accompanied by Cabinet colleagues, staged a protest in front of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Bengaluru demanding an investigation into the filing of Form 7 applications in bulk seeking the deletion of voters, particularly from Muslim, Dalit and backward-class communities.  Mr. Shivakumar had alleged that ‘pre-filled’ forms containing voters’ details had been submitted in several constituencies as part of a ‘conspiracy’ to remove eligible voters from the rolls. He sought criminal action against those responsible.