BJP targets Deputy CM Shivakumar for his 'saffronisation' remarks on Karnataka Police
Bengaluru, May 24: The opposition BJP on Wednesday targeted the Congress government in Karnataka accusing it of "demoralising" the state police and took strong exception to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement on "saffronisation" of the police force.
Taking officials to task during a meeting with senior police officers over some incidents in the previous BJP regime, Shivakumar on Tuesday had asked: "Are you planning to saffronise the police department?" He insisted that it would not be allowed in the present government.
Referring to incidents of police personnel sporting saffron shawls or dress during some occasions in Mangaluru, Vijayapura and Bagalkote under the BJP regime, the Deputy Chief Minister had said: "We will not allow saffronisation of the police department under our government."
BJP leader and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said Shivakumar's statement was "not a good start" for the new government.
ALSO READ: CM Ibrahim resigns as state president of JD(S)
"Governments come and go, but no attempts should be made to demoralise the Home and Police departments which have the responsibility of maintaining law and order and controlling crime. Yesterday's statement was demoralising... To further their agenda, they have spoken (out) doubting the police," he said.
Bommai claimed the Karnataka police has never been or ever will be saffronised while adding that such a phenomenon was just an illusion of the Congress leaders.
Former Home Minister and BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra accused Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of trying to 'Congress-ise' the police force in yesterday's meeting. "Our policing system is very good. The police act as per law. They don't discriminate on the basis of religion," he said.
BJP Vice President and MLA B Y Vijayendra questioned why Congress leaders get agitated on seeing saffron, as he reminded them that the national flag has the colour in the top band.
"It's an illusion that one can run the government by suppressing the administrative machinery. Those running the administration should bear this in mind," he said.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar stood by his statement today and said he is not answerable to BJP leaders. "Looking at their administration, people have already answered," he said alluding to the BJP's loss in the just-concluded Assembly polls.
Stating that he was referring to how police personnel in some places wore saffron instead of their uniform to pose for a photograph, he said, "The police had a good image in Karnataka."
The Deputy Chief Minister also charged the previous BJP regime of using the police to target Congress leaders during its tenure.
"Why was our party MLA and spokesperson Priyank Kharge (now minister) summoned after he raised corruption issues? Was it because he is a Dalit? The police have to work as per the law of the land," he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP SIR: Over 84 lakh voters added in final list, total electorate rises to 13.39 crore
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh's electorate grew by over 84 lakh to 13.39 crore after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the final voter list published on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the Lok Bhawan Media Centre here, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the SIR exercise was conducted from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, covering all 75 districts, 403 assembly constituencies and polling stations across the state.
He said the 166-day exercise was carried out with the contribution of 75 District Election Officers (DEOs), 403 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 12,758 Assistant EROs, 18,026 BLO supervisors and 1,77,516 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). In addition, 5,82,877 booth-level agents of recognised political parties and crores of voters extended cooperation.
Print, electronic and digital media also played a key role in awareness efforts, he added.
Rinwa said the draft electoral roll published on January 6, 2026, had a total of 12,55,56,025 voters, including 6.88 crore male voters, 5.67 crore female voters and 4,119 third gender voters.
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group stood at 3,33,981, while the gender ratio was 824 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
The final electoral roll published on April 10 shows the total number of voters at 13,39,84,792, he said.
Of these, male voters number 7,30,71,071 (around 54 per cent), female voters 6,09,09,525 (45.46 per cent) and third gender voters 4,206 (less than 0.01 per cent).
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group has risen to 17,63,360, accounting for 1.32 per cent of the total electorate. The gender ratio has also improved to 834 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
Comparing the draft and final rolls, Rinwa said the total increase in the number of voters is 84,28,767. This includes an increase of 42,27,902 male voters, 42,00,778 female voters and 87 third gender voters.
The 18-19 age group registered a rise of 14,29,379 voters, while the gender ratio improved by 10 points from 824 to 834, he said.
Among districts, Prayagraj recorded the highest increase in voters at 3,29,421, followed by Lucknow at 2,85,961, Bareilly at over 2,57,000, Ghaziabad at 2,43,666 and Jaunpur at 2,37,590.
The CEO said the successful completion of the revision exercise reflects coordinated efforts by election officials, political parties and voters across the state.
