Bengaluru: The NDA Tuesday urged governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot to intervene and put an end to registration of criminal cases against those filing Form-7 objections during the ongoing SIR, arguing that filing such objections is a “statutory right” and that there was no bar on submitting them in bulk.A delegation comprising Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, opposition leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy submitted a memorandum to Gehlot at Lok Bhavan. The delegation alleged that the govt was using police to intimidate people, especially BJP workers and supporters, who had filed Form-7 objections.The memorandum states that the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, allow objections through Form-7 which are required to be examined by electoral registration officers (ERO) or assistant EROs. The delegation said the ERO/AERO must conduct an inquiry and give both the objector and the person whose name is under objection a hearing. Decisions can also be challenged through the appellate mechanism under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.NDA claimed there was “no bar on filing bulk objections through Form-7”, citing an Election Commission communication dated Jan 16, 2026, and the Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023.However, ECI’s 2023 Manual on Electoral Rolls states authorised officers should accept individual applications and that claims and objections presented in bulk by an individual or organisation should not be entertained.The delegation said filing a false objection was punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, but alleged police were invoking more serious offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including cheating, forgery, intimidation and breach of peace. It alleged that this amounted to bypassing the non-cognisable nature of the provision under election law.It said FIRs were registered in Bhalki (Bidar), Market Area (Belagavi), Vyalikaval (Bengaluru), Ballari and Narasimharaja (Mysuru) and cases were being used to spread fear among those “exercising their right” to file objections.The delegation also said chief minister DK Shivakumar and his ministerial colleagues held a protest at the chief electoral officer’s office on Oct 1 despite prohibitory orders and exerted pressure on CEO.Chief minister DK Shivakumar, meanwhile, defended the FIRs, saying: “BJP members should not indulge in conspiracy politics. This is a shameful thing. In a democracy, elections should be won through a fair electoral process. Now they (BJP) are seeking protection (from the governor) stating private individuals cannot file a complaint on Form-7 applicants or election-related matters.”
