There is nothing wrong in booth-level officers (BLOs) asking voters to come to community halls or other public spaces to distribute enumeration forms, said KPCC vice-president and former Minister B. Ramanath Rai in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Rai said the Election Commission of India has allowed voters to submit SIR forms online. “If a voter is allowed to submit an SIR enumeration form from a place of convenience, what is wrong if the voter completes the process by sitting in a community hall? Mr. Ashok (Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly) and Mr. Narayanaswamy (Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council) are needlessly criticising the distribution of enumeration forms in front of mosques and Haj Bhavans,” Mr. Rai said.

It is convenient for both the BLO and the voter to complete the SIR process at a public space, he said.

Accusing the BJP of attempting to leave a section of voters from the electoral roll, Mr. Rai said the Congress would ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral roll in the exercise.

Welcoming the announcement by KPCC chief B.K. Hariprasad that senior Congress workers should be made chairpersons of boards and corporations by the government, Mr. Rai said party workers who have committed themselves to the party and to the people should be recognised. “I always admire party workers who are committed to public service,” he said. Mr. Rai added that he has served as a Minister and was not in contention to head any board or corporation.

Mr. Rai criticised the Mangaluru City Corporation for reportedly not issuing birth and death certificates, citing the ongoing SIR process. “The SIR process should continue alongside other citizen services in the MCC. People should not be inconvenienced because of the SIR,” he said.

Published - July 08, 2026 07:06 pm IST