Actor Prakash Raj recently claimed that his name has been deleted from the Bengaluru electoral roll amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Karnataka. After the Election Commission claimed there was no deletion but that the actor had to now re-register his voter ID at his new address, the actor posted another video questioning the commission.
Prakash Raj questions Election Commission’s ‘mistake’
Prakash posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday in which he said he had received a call from the commission’s office, which said they had made a mistake. “Friends, saathiyon, a few questions to the Election Commission of Karnataka. Isn’t it true that you had put it on your website that my voter ID is permanently shifted?” claimed the actor.
He further added, “That means deleted. That means I have to fill out Form 6 and apply for a new voter ID. Once I raised an issue, and it reached millions, isn’t it true that your officials called me, and said there has been a mistake, we will correct it? And you also requested me to put it on social media that you’re correcting it.”
However, he says the commission later called a press meet and claimed otherwise. “And by evening, you call a press meet. You change it from permanently shifted to shifted on your website. And tell the press that it’s actually shifted, the deletion is a lie. You are telling a lie, you have told a lie. And by 8.30, you will send your BLO to the old address, in front of the door, with a camera, call neighbours and create a natak (drama) that you have done the mahazar (spot check) after the issue is out of hand.”
{{/usCountry}}However, he says the commission later called a press meet and claimed otherwise. “And by evening, you call a press meet. You change it from permanently shifted to shifted on your website. And tell the press that it’s actually shifted, the deletion is a lie. You are telling a lie, you have told a lie. And by 8.30, you will send your BLO to the old address, in front of the door, with a camera, call neighbours and create a natak (drama) that you have done the mahazar (spot check) after the issue is out of hand.”
{{/usCountry}}Prakash pointed out that while he’s a celebrity, he also has rights like any other citizen of this country. “Hello, I am a celebrity. Will you call the common man like this? I am a celebrity because of my work, but I am equal to every citizen. This fight is about the dignity of a citizen. Of standing in queues, asking us to stand in queues. More videos, more clarifications, and a press meet to come. Game on,” he said.
What did the Election Commission say?
On Tuesday, Prakash posted a video claiming that his name had been deleted from the Bengaluru electoral roll during the SIR exercise in Karnataka. He pointed out that he was born and raised in the constituency, had attended school and college and had worked in the theatre there. The actor also claimed that 65 lakh voters have been deleted from the Bengaluru constituency. Prakash had previously contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Bengaluru constituency.
According to ANI, the Election Commission has maintained that the SIR exercise is routine and intended to ensure a clean and accurate electoral roll. The Bengaluru Central City Corporation has said that Prakash’s name has not been deleted from the electoral roll. According to the civic body, his name remained actively registered.
Officials said verification by the Booth Level Officer found that the actor had permanently shifted from his registered address. Neighbours, the property manager and the flat owner reportedly confirmed that he had not lived at the address for the past four years. A mahazar was drawn, and his voter status was marked as ‘shifted’. The Corporation also said Prakash himself confirmed over the telephone that he no longer resides at the registered address, although he continues to live at another location within the constituency.
Jagadish G, Additional District Election Officer (Central) and Commissioner of the Bengaluru Central City Corporation, said Prakash can re-register his voter details at his current residence through Form-6. In its statement, the civic body said the allegations in the circulating video were ‘verified and found not true.’
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