BJP sought voter verification, not deletion: Karnataka legislator

A BJP legislator from Karnataka has pushed back against criticism of his party's stance on voter rolls in Belagavi, asserting that the BJP sought verification and scrutiny rather than outright deletion of voters. The clarification comes amid ongoing tensions over electoral integrity in the border district. The MLA alleged that numerous foreign nationals, including Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants, were illegally registered as voters through the efforts of local Congress party officials. He maintained that the BJP's position was to identify and examine such registrations through proper administrative channels rather than pursue mass removal of names. The allegations touch on sensitive issues of border security and electoral management in a region that has witnessed significant demographic changes in recent years. Officials have not yet commented on the specific claims regarding voter registration irregularities. The matter remains politically contentious as both major parties contest narratives around voter eligibility and electoral processes in the state.