Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, October 12, said the Opposition had no option but to approach the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to safeguard democracy and protect citizens’ voting rights. His remarks came amid the INDIA bloc’s efforts to raise concerns over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the exclusion of eligible voters. Shivakumar said opposition leaders had exhausted other avenues to seek a response from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Chennai, Shivakumar questioned the Election Commission’s response to the Opposition’s representations. He said the Prime Minister should have called opposition leaders to understand their concerns if the poll body had failed to address their grievances. According to the Karnataka Chief Minister, approaching the judiciary was necessary to ensure that concerns about the electoral process received attention.

Shivakumar also reacted to reports that CJI Surya Kant had declined a meeting with INDIA bloc leaders. He maintained that political leaders must use every available opportunity to defend democratic institutions and the constitutional rights of citizens. Emphasising the importance of voting, he described the right to vote as fundamental to people’s lives and said opposition leaders were raising concerns on behalf of the public.

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Meanwhile, around 200 Congress legislators, Members of the Legislative Council and other party leaders from Karnataka travelled to New Delhi to participate in a protest march towards the Supreme Court. The demonstration, led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, was intended to draw attention to alleged irregularities in electoral rolls. The Congress has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of failing to adequately address complaints about eligible voters being removed from voter lists.

Karnataka Congress leaders said the campaign was aimed at protecting the constitutional right to vote and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. Party leaders also accused the Election Commission of favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and alleged that repeated memorandums and requests for action had gone unanswered. These claims are allegations made by the Congress and were not independently established in the available information.

Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad said the issue extended beyond the demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation, alleging that approximately 13 crore eligible voters had been excluded from electoral rolls across the country. The Opposition’s planned march and its attempt to engage with the judiciary have intensified the political debate over voter registration and the Election Commission’s handling of complaints. The controversy centres on demands for greater accountability and assurances that eligible citizens can exercise their voting rights.

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