27.59% of voters deleted from 10 Karnataka constituencies represented by Muslim MLAs

The analysis, based on figures released by political research consultancy Sankalp, found that the deletion rate in these constituencies was significantly higher than the state average of 19.45 per cent.

The 10 constituencies are Chamarajpet, Shivajinagar, Narasimharaja, Gulbarga North, Ramanagara, Mangaluru, Shantinagar, Bidar, Belagavi North and Shiggaon. They are represented by MLAs including B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rizwan Arshad, Tanveer Sait, Kaneez Fatima, H.A. Iqbal Hussain, U.T. Khader, N.A. Haris, Rahim Khan, Asif (Raju) Sait and Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan.

According to the analysis, these constituencies had 9,62,359 Muslim voters in the 2025 electoral rolls, of whom 2,46,759 names were deleted. This represents a deletion rate of 25.64 per cent among Muslim voters. The corresponding rate among voters from other communities in these constituencies was 28.79 per cent.

The report also highlighted differences in the reasons recorded for deleting voter names. While Muslims accounted for 12.9 per cent of Karnataka's total electorate, they represented 17.1 per cent of voters removed under the category of being unavailable and 20.3 per cent of those recorded as already registered elsewhere. They accounted for 12.2 per cent of the names deleted on the grounds of death.

The findings have brought renewed attention to the verification process followed during the SIR, particularly in cases where voters are classified as unavailable or registered elsewhere. The analysis raises questions about the procedures and documentary evidence used to establish these categories.

The figures are based on an independent analysis of electoral roll data and do not, by themselves, establish that the deletions were wrongful or politically motivated. The Election Commission's stated grounds for removal include voters who have died, shifted residence or have duplicate registrations.

The findings have also drawn attention to the broader impact of the revision exercise on constituencies with significant minority populations and the need to ensure that eligible voters whose names have been removed have an opportunity to seek their re-inclusion in the electoral rolls.