Karnataka CM Shivakumar issues PRCs to voters, BJP alleges bid to shield infiltrators from SIR
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As the Election Commission began its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, Congress Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s initiative to distribute Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) and caste certificates door to door has drawn criticism from the BJP and JD(S) for allegedly protecting the Congress's "illegal vote bank" from the SIR exercise
While the Election Commission accepts PRCs for voter verification during the ongoing SIR process, Shivakumar described the initiative as a historic campaign and defended it as the Congress government's commitment to sparing citizens the burden of visiting multiple government offices.
Shivakumar drew a parallel for his initiative from former chief minister SM Krishna, under whose tenure Record of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) documents were delivered, saying, “This is a pro-people government. Your vote, your right; your vote, your life. Our government guarantees it.”
The Chief Minister further claimed that the government had ensured that nearly 4.85 crore digital caste certificates were shared with Deputy Commissioners for printing and distribution, and that a dedicated mobile application had been developed to capture Aadhaar details, mobile numbers and beneficiary acknowledgements.
The facility will allow citizens to download caste certificates free of cost from the government portal using the certificate's RD number, ration card number or Aadhaar number, as well as through government assistance centres, including those established at the hobli level.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) have expressed their dissent over the initiative, questioning its timing and legality, with Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accusing the government of trying to shield those “infiltrators” who do not have documents to prove their right to vote and terming the issuance of PRCs “totally unconstitutional and illegal”.
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashok also challenged the legal basis for issuing PRCs, contending that the Congress government had crossed “a dangerous constitutional line” and warning that the BJP would oppose the move politically, legally and constitutionally if it was not withdrawn.
Amid the political confrontation, a senior Election Commission official clarified that PRCs would be accepted during the SIR exercise only if they were issued lawfully by competent authorities such as tahsildars, deputy commissioners or additional deputy commissioners.